UEFA aim to cleanup game and restore level-playing field

UEFA have vowed that no stone will be left unturned in their planned clean-up of European football.

European football’s governing body have committed to investigating the state of the game 10 years since the initial impact of the Bosman ruling, which UEFA feel has led to the distorting of traditional values.

An independent review will be forwarded to politicians and the footballing authorities next summer following investigations into - among other things - multiple ownership, corruption and the trafficking of under-age footballers.

UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson believes the game is still feeling the effects of the Bosman case but hopes the new relationship with the European Commission will help it regain stability.

“The specific character of sport lost out to the rules of business,” said Olsson.

“Football was ill-prepared (for the Bosman ruling). We thought we had a gentleman’s agreement with the Commission but it didn’t stand the test. As a result, the traditional values of sport got lost.”

Freedom of movement has appeared to fuel greed and ambition, and Olsson accused Europe’s biggest and wealthiest clubs of cruelly raiding smaller teams for their talent - the most worrying consequence of Bosman.

“Education (of home-grown players) doesn’t mean anything any more,” said Olsson at European Union headquarters in Brussels.

“Those clubs who had access to all the money started to rob the smaller clubs, not just to get stronger themselves but to weaken the opposition.

“What we want to do now is create an even playing field based on sports rules rather than commercial rules. Hopefully, it will prove a major step to improve the governance of the game.”

It has already been established that, from next season, clubs appearing in the Champions League and UEFA Cup will have to select a minimum of four players who have been domestically trained for a minimum of three years, rising to eight in 2008-9.

Olsson said two highly-publicised cases of clubs threatening to sue because of injuries to their players while on international duty presented arguably the gravest threat to the game.

Lyon are taking legal action because of an injury sustained by defender Eric Abidal playing for Costa Rica.

And Charleroi of Belgium are also demanding financial compensation over the loss of Abdelmajid Oulmers, a Moroccan midfielder who tore ankle ligaments.

Both clubs have the support of the powerful G14 organisation over their demands to FIFA.

The world governing body have so far refused to negotiate and Olsson said both sides of the argument had to be recognised.

Olsson also warned against the increasing trafficking of children, often from poorer countries, into Europe.

“There are camps in southern Europe where young players have been brought from Africa and South America, including sometimes their entire families,” said Olsson.

“They are brought into the academies with promises by unscrupulous agents of a sell-on fee, but what happens when they are not good enough?

“Of course, they are kicked out and there is no safety net for them. This is a huge responsibility for us.”