'An influential football watchdog yesterday put itself on a collision course with the government after expressing hostility to plans for European-wide reforms to the way the game is governed. The Independent Football Commission said it was opposed to the main recommendations of the Independent European Sports Review, which are being backed by Richard Caborn, the sports minister. It said it could see no case for major intervention by political and government bodies and opposed the idea of Uefa becoming football's governing body across Europe. The review, which was instigated by Caborn under Britain's presidency of the EU and led by the Portuguese politician Jose Luis Arnaut, said football across Europe was in "poor health" and advocated measures such as salary caps and quotas for home-grown players.
'In its annual report published yesterday the IFC said it was "extremely concerned about the external influence that seems to be being forced upon English football". It added: "The European Sports Review is seen by some as a sort of cloak and dagger way of ensuring that the control of football in Europe becomes centralised by the EU and Uefa, so there is rightly concern that football in England has much to worry about from this review."
'The IFC said it was disappointed with Uefa's "bilious and gratuitously hostile" response to its recommendations earlier this year to improve ground safety, stewarding and policing arrangements at European club matches. Fraser said crowd trouble in Rome and Seville showed it to be a matter of current concern.
'New inquiries that will be conducted by the IFC in the coming year include investigations into whether ticket prices and match scheduling are having an effect on attendances and whether standing areas should return to stadiums.'