Today, the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, met with the President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Michel Platini, who is currently on a visit to Minsk.

“I am very glad that you have been providing great support for our football in both financial and technical aspects,” said Alexander Lukashenko.

Michel Platini expressed his gratitude to the President of Belarus for the support that Belarus had given to him as he was running for the presidency of the UEFA in 2007. “It’s very important for me to see the state of development of football in Belarus. I know you’ve been doing a lot to promote this type of sport in your country,” he said to Alexander Lukashenko.

The President of Belarus conferred Belarus’ supreme sports award on Michel Platini, an Order of the National Olympic Committee.

Following the meeting with the President of Belarus, Mr. Platini talked to the press. The great attention paid by the Belarusian authorities to football predicts a promising future for Belarusian football, he said.

“It’s difficult to foretell the future, but what is evident is the huge carried out by the national football association of Belarus. This work helps maintain interest in football in Belarus, first of all among young people,” he said. “The great funds that Belarus has been investing in training young talented players are a good prerequisite for future successes,” he added.