UEFA to increase dope tests and tackle bad behaviour

UEFA are to increase random dope testing by 30 per cent from next season and will also review behaviour at matches in a bid to improve the global image of soccer.

But an executive committee on Friday delayed a decision on changes to the UEFA Cup, leaving the format unchanged until at least the start of the 2004-05 season.

European soccer's governing body are falling into line with FIFA and WADA, the world anti-doping agency, in their increased efforts to keep drugs out of sport.

UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner said on Friday that random tests would increase from 137 matches this season to 180 next season -- and that random testing would also be introduced far more widely.

"In the past, we have tended to test the same teams as they progress through a competition and so the testing is concentrated on the high profile matches," he said.

"From next season, we intend to spread the testing across the board and include players in the earlier rounds of the competitions."

"We will also test in Under-17 and Under-19 competitions for example."

With four players tested at every match -- two from each team -- a total of 548 players were tested last season with only one positive result.

So far this season just one player has tested positive -- Sead Seferovic of Zeljeznicar, who was tested after his team played Newcastle United in a Champions League qualifier on August 14. He was suspended for one year after his test showed he had used the banned substance ephedrine.

UEFA are also keen to improve the global image of the game and are to set up a working party to look at 12 key areas where discipline breaks down in high-profile televised games.

These include players or coaches screaming at the referee, coaches turning to the public to encourage protest, players guilty of blatant cheating and groups of players rounding on the referee after a decision has been made.

Aigner explained: "We can learn from other sports like basketball, rugby and athletics where the players show greater discipline.

"This image of football is having a negative effect on the recruitment of referees -- the pictures shown on the television discourage people from taking up refereeing and we must improve this."

The plan is to examine the worst aspects and eventually incorporate the improvements into the laws of the game with the backing of FIFA and the International Board, the ultimate law-making body for the sport.

UEFA are still considering changes to the UEFA Cup, including the delicate subject of centrally marketing the competition under existing European Union laws.

At the moment, clubs organise their own TV and sponsorship deals for the UEFA Cup, which UEFA would prefer to market centrally as they do for the Champions League.

Aigner also stressed they were keen to give the UEFA Cup a greater identity of its own.

"Because of the reduction of matches in the Champions League in due course, there is a greater opportunity to alternate between having only Champions League matches in some weeks and UEFA Cup matches in another."

"This will ease up a number of dates for domestic club competitions and ease some of the burden on the clubs.

"The calendar for this is still being sorted out, but no changes will be made to the UEFA Cup until the start of the 2004-05 season at the earliest," Aigner said.