More goals needed, French league says

PARIS, Mar 8 (Reuters) France's Ligue 1, widely regarded as the least attractive of the five great soccer championships in Europe, has plans to increase its goal-scoring rate and make life more interesting for bored fans.

Former France coach Michel Hidalgo recently unveiled a blueprint to reform the league and reward bold, attacking football.

The scheme, which received a warm welcome from Frederic Thiriez, the president of the French professional league (LFP), could be tested in Ligue 2 next season.

The main idea supported by Hidalgo is to fight the boredom French fans feel when matches end up as goalless draws, as did Sunday's tie between Paris St Germain and arch-rivals Olympique Marseille, by awarding extra points for high numbers of goals.

''People want to see more goals. We must do something about it and try change the way people think,'' Hidalgo told a news conference after a meeting with the presidents of 40 French professional clubs in Paris last week.

''In the coming weeks, more meetings will be held with all the people involved in soccer -- club officials, referees and players.

Bold sides must be rewarded,'' he said.

THREE SUGGESTIONS An average of 2.18 goals were scored in French league matches during the 2004-2005 season while there were 2.53 in Italy's Serie A, 2.57 in England's Premier League, 2.58 in the Spanish Primera Liga and up to 2.91 in Germany's Bundesliga, according to figures issued by the LFP.

''We would like to come up with a detailed setup we could test as soon as next season,'' Thiriez said. ''The only improvement introduced in football over the last 20 years is that the ball can't be passed with the foot to the goalkeeper any more.'' Hidalgo, who led France to the European title in 1984, made three different suggestions which are now to be reviewed and debated.

The first proposition would leave the traditional distribution of points largely untouched.

Three points would be given for a victory, one for a draw and zero in case of defeat but an extra point would be given to the side who opened the scoring if the match ended up in a draw.

The second proposition is to implement the system of home and away matches which has been the rule in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup for many years.

A one-point bonus would be granted to the side who scored the greater number of goals on aggregate. In the case of a draw, a penalty shootout would be held.

ATTACKING SIDES Hidalgo's third suggestion was the one which triggered Thiriez's real interest.

Defeats and draws would not be affected but the usual points distribution would be amended in case of victory in order to favour attacking sides.

A success by a one-goal margin would earn only two points while a win by at least a two-goal difference would yield three points.

''I'm quite favourable to the third proposition,'' Thiriez said.

''We will have to work on it before we can submit a formal plan to the LFP.

''Whatever we come up with it will be up to the Ligue to take a decision about any changes,'' he said.

REUTERS PDS PM0934