UEFA pressing for greater control

UEFA has come up with 50 new measures aimed at reducing any misconduct among players' agents.

Chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson said yesterday the proposals had been hammered out in three separate meetings and would be forwarded to FIFA.

"I cannot tell you anything about the individual proposals as they are still being examined," Olsson said.

"But our primary concern is that we need a more global approach throughout the European Union on how agents are examined and what kind of limitations can be added.

"We have already had indications from several European governments about money-laundering and other strange activities. We think it is only reasonable when agents are handling such huge amounts of money that there are better controls."

UEFA is already conducting an investigation into the state of European football after concerns raised by sports minister Richard Caborn during Britain's six-month presidency of the EU.

Olsson also welcomed Tuesday's decision by England's Premier League to launch its own investigation into allegations of illegal payments in the transfer market and said that any findings could be integrated into UEFA's own report.