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UEFA to dock points in clamp down
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-16 11:01
UEFA will this week take the first steps towards toughening up the penalties
for national sides, clubs and players who misbehave and are set to move towards
a system where points deductions and match forfeits will be become regular
punishments.
European football's rulers have been stung into action by criticism that
fines now mean little to wealthy clubs and national associations.
Chelsea were fined #33,000 by UEFA in March for bringing the game into
disrepute over the Anders Frisk affair - less than half a week's wages for one
of the top players.
There was also criticism that Italian side Inter Milan were given a
four-match stadium ban for a second offence of crowd trouble instead of being
kicked out of the Champions League.
For some seemingly more trivial offences however UEFA have taken a harsh
line. For example if any club fields an ineligible player in European
competition, even for five minutes as a substitute, they forfeit the match with
a 3-0 defeat marked against them.
UEFA's executive committee will discuss the issue of disciplinary penalties
at a meeting in Manchester on Friday and although no formal decision will be
taken at this stage, they will be told by officials that the current system
needs a complete overhaul.
A source close to UEFA revealed: 'Fines will be a deterrent for poorer clubs
or national associations but everyone knows that nowadays they do not affect the
richer ones at all.
"For example a fine for Chelsea or for a rich association such as England or
Italy does not hurt them at all. UEFA are keen not to be seen to be soft on
misbehaviour, particularly in the light of the Anders Frisk affair and what
happened with Inter."
"The executive committee will be asked to consider using sporting sanctions
much more often - points deductions or match forfeits that will really hit those
who misbehave where it hurts."
UEFA's chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson is the man driving the move to
change the system.
He is especially keen to stamp out the outspoken criticism of referees of the
sort that landed Chelsea and their manager Jose Mourinho in trouble after his
stinging attacks on Frisk were followed by the Swedish official retiring after
death threats from Blues fans.
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