Player behaviour concerns UEFA

Posted Friday, March 13, 2015 by Foxsports.com

Chelsea were criticised for the way they reacted to a tackle on Oscar by Zlatan Ibrahimovic that saw the Paris Saint-Germain striker sent off as they knocked Jose Mourinhos side out of the Champions League on Wednesday.

The sides drew 2-2 after extra-time at Stamford Bridge following a 1-1 draw in the French capital in the first leg as Laurent Blancs team advanced on the away goals rule.

Chelsea skipper John Terry has since spoken out to defend his team-mates but UEFA's head of media Pedro Pinto admits there are concerns within the organisation over players putting pressure on officials during games.

"The president (Michel Platini) has recently been more concerned about the behaviour of players on the pitch and it is something we are looking at at the moment to see what can be done," said Pinto.

"Obviously, we would like to see an environment where players accept the decisions taken and where they would not employ the tactic of pressure and intimidation of the officials during the game.

"Right now, there is a strong interest internally to look at specific initiatives and campaigns, and possibly regulations that would be a positive influence on football and would hopefully have an impact on the behaviour of players.

"We are aware there is concern regarding the behaviour overall... it is not a good example for fans, for future players or for the image of the game."

UEFA has also voiced concerns about the so-called triple punishment rule, whereby a player concedes a penalty, is sent off for denying a clear scoring chance and serves an automatic suspension.

Shakhtar Donetsk player Oleksandr Kucher was sent off in the third minute of his sides 7-0 drubbing away to Bayern Munich for a foul on Mario Goetze which led to a penalty, converted by Thomas Muller.

Pinto and UEFA believe the triple punishment rule places undue pressure on match officials and have campaigned to amend them.

UEFA's suggestion that red cards should be replaced with a yellow in such cases was turned down in February by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which has instead suggested removing the automatic suspension aspect of the rule.

"We feel that the current triple punishment rule as it stands puts the referee in a very tough position and leads to decisions which are made that end up having quite a strong influence on the games," added Pinto.

"We feel it is too harsh and kills too many games. Even though the IFAB is looking at to amend a rule for suspensions, that does nothing to change what happens on the field.

"We are trying to make football the best spectacle possible for the fans and the teams on the pitch and, unless it is obviously a 99 per cent scoring position, we feel the rule as it stands is too harsh."