FIFA is to discuss enforcing stronger measures to curb
match-fixing which could include the suspension of national
associations as well as clubs, president Sepp Blatter said on
Sunday.
Last year, a match-fixing scandal in Italian football ended with
Juventus being stripped of their last two Serie A titles and
relegated to Serie B. Other clubs were also sanctioned.
Blatter told Reuters: "There is a strong disciplinary code and
our aim is to enforce the code more strongly. In short more
enforcement of the law."
On a four-day visit to India, Blatter said FIFA would be
discussing match-fixing at its next Congress in May with measures
set for "widespread implementation around the world."
Violence at stadiums is also on the agenda after police clashes
with fans at recent European competition matches in Rome and
Seville.
"Football is not a wonderful world now, but we can all make it
into a better world by working together," Blatter said.
He added: "I don't want a situation where there are more
policemen than spectators (at stadiums)."
(China Daily via Reuters April 16, 2007)