UEFA declare new policy of zero tolerance

UEFA's executive committee has declared a tough new policy of opposition to violence in soccer with new president Michel Platini urging all 53 member countries to impose tougher disciplinary sanctions.

The move comes in the wake of a series of incidents in European soccer this season, the latest of which involved serious crowd trouble at Norway's Euro 2008 qualifier against Bosnia in Oslo on Saturday.

Platini, who became UEFA president in January, is wasting little time reshaping the organisation and told an extraordinary executive meeting at the European governing body's headquarters in Nyon on Monday that the time had come for tougher measures.

UEFA communications director William Gaillard said: "Mr Platini recently wrote to the presidents of the clubs taking part in the last 16 of the Champions League, asking for their support and help.

"Now we have seen incidents at Euro 2008 matches at certain venues. So Michel Platini is also going to write to the association presidents to remind them of their duties.

"The executive committee fully supports his stance of zero tolerance against violence and violent people," Gaillard added, emphasising that a special call was being made to coaches, players and officials, as well as to spectators.

"UEFA, the associations and the clubs can do quite a lot when it comes to violence on the pitch and in stadiums," he said, "however, we can do less away from the stadiums - there we need the help of the various public order authorities."

Platini said he would write to the presidents of all 53 UEFA member nations calling on them to impose stiffer sanctions and combat what he regards as a "deeply negative trend".

Platini met government and police experts from around Europe last week and reiterated his plea for help from all European states to solve the problem. He has also called for the creation of a special force to deal with sports-related violence.