Europe game in danger of falling into wrong hands: review

BRUSSELS, May 23: Europe's politicans and football authorities must act quickly to stop the game falling into the wrong hands, an independent report said today.

Published ahead of the World Cup finals starting on June 9, the report into how the game should be run in the European Union said the public was becoming increasingly disaffected with the ''beautiful game''.

The report recommended a cap on players' wages, stricter rules for players' agents and putting the game on a more secure legal footing.

''The result of the review has left me deeply concerned. Sports and football in particular are not in good health,'' said Jose Luis Arnaut, the man who led the inquiry.

''There is a real risk that the ownership of clubs will pass into the wrong hands and the true values of sport will be eroded.'' The review was launched in December under the British presidency of the EU. It is sponsored by the EU and UEFA, European soccer's ruling body, with the blessing of football's world governing body FIFA.

Arnaut, the former Portuguese deputy prime minister, delivered his report today to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.

EU ministers will discuss the findings at a meeting in Brussels next month.

REUTERS