Rise in disciplinary cases

Over 700 cases
A reportby European football's governing body containing disciplinary statistics for the 2002/03 season said that the number of disciplinary cases continued to grow in comparison with previous seasons. The total number of cases in 2002/03 reached 752 for 1,441 matches, compared with 639 from 1,300 matches in the 2001/02 season.

'Not excessive'
"As there were more competition matches in the period under review [...], the three per cent increase in disciplinary cases is not excessive," the report explained. One particular reason for the slight increase was the number of hard-fought UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying matches.

Less appeals
However, despite the higher number of disciplinary cases, the number of appeals has continued to fall. UEFA's appeals body dealt with 27 appeals last season, compared with 29 in 2001/02. The original decision by the UEFA control and disciplinary body was confirmed in 14 cases (52 per cent) and modified in four cases. In the remaining nine cases, the appeal proceedings were settled by the UEFA statutory provision whereby the appeals body complies with identical requests from the two parties.

Red card
The largest number of disciplinary cases arose as the result of a red card, of which there were 301 in UEFA matches last season (37 per cent). This was followed by actions brought for lack of order and discipline in a stadium (220 in total - 37 per cent) and improper conduct by a team (117 - 14 per cent).

Yellow card rise
The average number of yellow cards per match in the UEFA club competitions rose to 3.6, after last season's encouraging low. This figure corresponds more or less to the figures for the 1999/00 and 2000/01 seasons.

Intertoto average
As in previous seasons, the average for red and yellow cards is much higher for the UEFA Intertoto Cup - 438 yellow cards, 20 yellow/red cards and 13 red cards from 114 matches - than for the UEFA Champions League (794/16/17 from 237 matches) and the UEFA Cup (1,022/37/28 from 287 matches). "This can be explained by lack of experience on the part of players and referees taking part in the Intertoto Cup," the report said.

Fairest play
UEFA's report described as "gratifying" the fact the number of red cards in the Champions League had fallen to 17. "Last season, the UEFA Champions League was the theatre of the fairest play by far," was UEFA's viewpoint.

Less income
Fine income dropped for the first time since 2000, by €378,765 to €2.49m - a 13 per cent fall. "This drop can primarily be explained by the shift in the jurisprudence towards a more relaxed approach to improper conduct by a team," the UEFA report said.

Click here for the report