The Reference Group of the European Broadcasting Union has announced that it will make the participating broadcasters in the Eurovision Song Contest more accountable for any voting irregularities.

After issues concerning last year’s voting an investigation took place so see whether the final votes were affected by outside influences. Nothing was discovered to connect any of the broadcasters to improper activity or knowledge of this.

Today it has been reported that the contest’s governing body, known as the Reference Group, will be putting into place tighter practices.

They have announced that –

If voting irregularities are detected before, during or after the contest in favour of any represented country, the Reference Group will automatically initiate procedures which carry a penalty of exclusion of the respective participating broadcaster from the contest for a maximum of three consecutive years.

Just as football clubs are in principle accountable for the behaviour of their fans, we will hold – on a case-by-case basis – participating broadcasters accountable and make them responsible to prevent voting irregularities in favour of their entry. said Dr Frank Dieter Freiling, chairman of the Reference Group.

The Executive Supervisor of the Contest, Jon Ola Sand has commented- The winner of the Eurovision Song Contest is decided by professional juries and viewers at home, each having a 50 per cent stake in the result. In this contest, there is no place for organised attempts to unfairly influence the outcome.

Stay tuned to esctoday.com for more news on the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.