EU sports ministers want stricter stadium security

By Darren Ennis

MANCHESTER, England, March 13 (Reuters) - European Union sports ministers proposed measures on Tuesday to improve security at sports events across the bloc, including introducing EU-wide standards for stadiums and security personnel.

To make sport -- most notably soccer -- safer for the public, "in future, stadium rules should conform to minimum, Europe-wide requirements, and stewards should be trained according to common EU standards", a statement by the 27 ministers said.

The proposals were agreed during a meeting of sports ministers in Stuttgart, 24 hours after UEFA President Michel Platini sought the help of governments to rid soccer of increased violence and racism.

Following his first meeting with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels on Monday, the newly-elected European soccer chief said the game's authorities could not act alone in dealing with the increasing off-the-pitch problems.

In the last month, authorities in France, Germany, Spain and Serbia have had to deal with violent incidents linked to soccer.

Ministers have agreed to develop a number of key proposals such as:

- an EU police Web site to help the 27 forces, judiciary and authorities to compile intelligence.

- a handbook on policing at sports events which will include minimum requirements.

- increased training based on EU standards for personnel, particularly stewards, at sports events.

BRITISH MODEL

According to government officials, a number of recommendations were proposed which were mainly based on the current British model.

Platini praised the British authorities and football associations on Monday on their efforts in tackling the problem of hooliganism in recent years.

"To be honest, most of the issues won't affect Britain on a daily basis, but will help the strengthen the situation," one EU government source told Reuters.

British Sports Minister Richard Caborn welcomed the move, his spokesman said.

Last week, Platini called for the creation of an international police force to help tackle hooliganism as well as corruption and betting scandals.

Officials confirmed he would meet EU justice chief Franco Frattini in the coming weeks to discuss hooliganism and racism, while the UEFA boss will also hold a meeting with European police chiefs in two weeks' time.

The minsters' proposals are expected to be followed up with the help of the European Commission as part of the EU executive's proposed white paper on sport.