FFA receives the award for Best grassroots project

The official dinner of the XXXVIII Ordinary UEFA Congress in Astana gave UEFA the chance to honour member national associations for their excellence in a variety of fields, which earned five of them the inaugural UEFA HatTrick awards in 2013.

Football federation of Armenia received the award for Best grassroots project. The Schools of Sport and Peace project has had a great impact on grassroots football in the country and is being used to tackle social problems.

The other 4 associations, who won the 2013 HatTrick Awards, were :

Best special project

Czech Republic (FAČR): Membership

Aimed at all levels of the game and providing good revenue streams to grassroots football through the distribution of funds through the local associations.

Best women's football development project

Northern Ireland (IFA): SCORE Pilot Project

Focuses on education and development. While encouraging the local population to become volunteers or coaches, the ultimate objective has been to get more young girls playing football.

Best investment project

Italy (FIGC): Città Azzurra del Calcio (Azzurri Football City)

Aims at generating new interest and support for the national teams. It is a role model for long-term investment in the promotion of national team football.

Best social project

Netherlands (KNVB): Football For Everyone

Focused on the topic of eliminating homophobia in sport – an issue that is relevant for all of society. The KNVB has set the trend for dealing with the issue.

UEFA President Michel Platini and UEFA HatTrick Committee chairman Allan Hansen presented UEFA Champions League final balls to Rudolf Řepka (FAČR general secretary), Jim Shaw (IFA president), Giancarlo Abete (FICG president), Michael van Praag (KNVB president) and Armen Minasyan (HFF vice-president).