Austria coach Josef Hickersberger called on UEFA yesterday to be more considerate with its unannounced doping tests at the European Championship.

The Associated Press reported yesterday that 10 Austrian players were tested at random late on Thursday, one day before the friendly match against Malta.

Hickersberger said the visit by the European governing body’s doping officials was unexpected.

Hickersberger was not happy by the timing of the surprise test as the scheduled viewing of video analysis of Malta had to be called off.

“That would have been useless with only half of the team attending,” he said. “It obviously disturbed our preparations for the Malta game.”

“Against Malta it’s not a big deal, but I hope there will be no unannounced doping tests the day before a tournament match,” Hickersberger said. “Even if UEFA’s idea behind the tests – to keep football completely clean of doping – is praiseworthy.”