Fuente : UEFA
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UEFA: UEFA warning on stadium disorder

/noticias.info/ UEFA has pledged tough action in an effort to prevent further scenes of disorder in European football stadiums which endanger the safety of players, fans and referees.

'Concern and preoccupation'
After the latest meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee in Tallinn, Estonia, European football's governing body today expressed its "concern and preoccupation" at incidents such as the crowd trouble that led to the abandonment of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg between FC Internazionale Milano and AC Milan last week.

Closed doors
Inter were ordered to play their next six European club competition matches behind closed doors as a result of the disturbances, with the last two under a probationary period of three years. In addition, Inter were fined CHF 300,000. UEFA warned today that it would take stricter measures if such incidents continue.

Clear message
"We are going to be very firm in our statements towards all stakeholders in European football that what has happened in the spring is not acceptable," said UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson. "We will send a very clear signal to everyone involved that they have a responsibility to safeguard security. There will be a clear message on what is accepted in our competitions."

Stronger sanctions
The UEFA CEO admitted that financial sanctions may no longer be enough. "In the current financial situation, we have to look into other consequences rather than just financial consequences," said Mr Olsson. "The fines were stronger instruments before, when there was a different financial situation for the clubs. We must look into other consequences such as withdrawal of points and sporting consequences for misbehaviour."

'Identify alternatives'
"The Executive Committee has asked UEFA to look into what kind of action could taken immediately and in the long term," he added. "There will be discussions for the new season - we could take political decisions whereby, for example, matches could not take place in a territory for a certain period of time. We must analyse the situation and identify the different alternatives."

Danger of flares
Mr Olsson, who said he was "disappointed, angry and sad" at the events in Milan, also expressed concern at the use of flares by fans at football matches. "We cannot interevene in regulations in different countries, but we have a duty to convince our associations that [flares] are dangerous. You cannot have a celebration which jeopardises security, and our ambition is that flares should not exist as a way of celebrating results in football."

Recipe for disaster
"I think if you have a system where you allow flares to be used before the match starts, as a tradition, it is a recipe for disaster," he added. "You can always say that this is a way of celebrating, and it's all right up to a certain point, but when you pass this point, as happened in Milan, you have no control."

Secure venues
"We are responsible for having secure venues where we would like families to come and watch football, and it is absolutely unacceptable to have that kind of environment [as in Milan]." Mr Olsson also said coherence was needed between the responsibilities of clubs and the authorities in some countries as far as security and safety was concerned.

Stop provocation
The CEO also called for an end to provocative statements that could also impact on match security. "Everybody who makes statements could provoke actions," he said. "We have to reach agreement with the clubs and associations that, for example, opponents are not provoked before matches - this can only be done by convincing people that they have a responsibility and run certain risks." notas_de_prensa_archivo