Platini

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

You really do have to question his ability to do the job due to his lack of impartiality:

 

England's top clubs could be banned from the Champions League unless they clear their debts as Uefa president Michel Platini wants sides who are in the red to be prevented from entering Europe's top competition. (Daily Star)

 

Uefa president Michel Platini today publicly backed Real Madrid's pursuit of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

His comments were a further knock for United, who have already had an official complaint against Real over their pursuit of Ronaldo rejected by Fifa.

 

Platini said the Madrid club’s public wooing of the player is part and parcel of the game. “Every club in the world would like to have Ronaldo," he told a Vienna news conference. “It’s part of the system we have today. Players move from club to club and I can understand why Real Madrid want him.

 

 

the guy's a bell

[AE]

I just think he really hates England / UK, the FA(s), our clubs and national teams

[John am Rhein]

If he's on the side of Real Madrid vs Man United then he's in the right.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

it's pretty marginal though

[surf]

wouldn't this rule exclude all of the italian teams and a few of the spanish?

i'm assuming platini said something about debt and the daily star came up with the *shock* platini hates england headline

[fyds]

wouldn't this rule exclude all of the italian teams and a few of the spanish?

i'm assuming platini said something about debt and the daily star came up with the *shock* platini hates england headline

For a change, they wouldn't have to - he really does hate the England team, English teams per se, Liverpool for certain historic reasons and the premier league to boot. FWIW, my French friends in Brittany think he's a bellend too.

[Stevie H]

For a change, they wouldn't have to - he really does hate the England team, English teams per se, Liverpool for certain historic reasons and the premier league to boot. FWIW, my French friends in Brittany think he's a bellend too.

how do you know he hates the england team and english teams?

 

every french football fan i know still considers platini a genius.

[muleskinner]

how do you know he hates the england team and english teams?

 

every french football fan i know still considers platini a genius.

 

His obvious delight at them not qualifying for Euro 2008? His comments about English club sides in the CL? His endorsement of Willem Gaillard ? He may have grounds for his views but someone in his position shouldn't verbalise them so often, if at all.

[surf]

I also get the impression that Platini has a severe dislike for English clubs.

However, i don't believe this particular issue is an indication of that:

England's top clubs could be banned from the Champions League unless they clear their debts as Uefa president Michel Platini wants sides who are in the red to be prevented from entering Europe's top competition. (Daily Star)

 

The bit in bold is probably what Platini said with the first bit being sensationalistic headlines by the paper.

A while ago i read that Italian clubs are in dire straits financially and the big Spanish teams weren't doing too well either. So i'm not at all convinced that this is aimed at English clubs in particlar.

 

It's about an English paper coming up with a dramatich headline to entice English football supporters and it seems to be working.

[Knox_Harrington]

I don't think penalising clubs with excessive debt is in any way a bad thing. The German system has done it for years and the Bundaliga is one of the best run leagues because of it.

[John am Rhein]

I don't think penalising clubs with excessive debt is in any way a bad thing. The German system has done it for years and the Bundaliga is one of the best run leagues because of it.

 

And, perhaps significantly, one of the least competitive (at least relative to what might be assumed to be their level), when it comes to European competition. That may go to show how much British and Spanish (?) clubs are buying success by dodge financing, however.

[John am Rhein]

I also get the impression that Platini has a severe dislike for English clubs.

 

Don't we all? (with one significant exception)

[Knox_Harrington]

And, perhaps significantly, one of the least competitive (at least relative to what might be assumed to be their level), when it comes to European competition. That may go to show how much British and Spanish (?) clubs are buying success by dodge financing, however.

The three English clubs who have made the semi-finals of the last two European Cup campaigns are in a combined debt of over £1.5bn and play in a domestic league which is being taken further and further away from grassroots supporters. I just don't see how that is healthy for any European team over the long term.

[Ahmed Dimwitson]

I don't think penalising clubs with excessive debt is in any way a bad thing. The German system has done it for years and the Bundaliga is one of the best run leagues because of it.

 

Platinis comments are ridiculous and it is quite clear the man has spent most of his time on the football pitch than school. Debt is no big issue, most companies have different debts these days, it is a question if the debt burden is manageable or not => if it is not corporate law has procedures for that to protect the parties with stakes involved. It is not for some moron with 9 years in elementary school behind him to dictate how a company should be run i.e. using their own cash flow or external financing.

 

As it is - Uniteds debt was generated by the take-over, i.e. the club is paying for them selfs and when it has managed to do so the Glaziers will reap the benefits. If United could use their profits them selfs instead of paying off this debt it would be even more successful and competitive.

[Knox_Harrington]

It is not for some moron with 9 years in elementary school behind him to dictate how a company should be run i.e. using their own cash flow or external financing.

But it is for that "moron" to be part of the decision making process as to the rules and regulations of association football should be run and herein lies the discussion.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Platini on increasing the size of the Euro tournament:

 

"Remember, I won the Euros [in 1984] when there were only eight teams. It is not certain it was better with eight teams than 16 or that 16 is better than 24 or 32 or 54.

 

 

54!!!!

[stressederic]

Platini on increasing the size of the Euro tournament:

54!!!!

 

I'm not a professional geographer or cartologist but I'm fairly certain Platini is going to struggle to get 54 countries into a European tournament.

[growler]

anyone who speaks out against the scum deserves our support.

 

also, most of what he says makes sense.

 

And he wasn't the only one who was glad England didn't make it to the euro's.

 

I just want to see 4 linesmen, and halftime/full time red cards bought into play to punish divers and cynical play and a rule that says play continues when a player goes down injured and the physio can continue to tend to the player until the ball runs out of play.

[fyds]

how do you know he hates the england team and english teams?

 

every french football fan i know still considers platini a genius.

Just by listening to him and reading his comments Stevie - it's very difficult to form any other opinion. The Bretons aren't all that keen aon those from Eastern France anyway

[NWR]

anyone who speaks out against the scum deserves our support.

 

 

Can you elaborate please?

[John am Rhein]

I'm not a professional geographer or cartologist but I'm fairly certain Platini is going to struggle to get 54 countries into a European tournament.

 

Some countries will enter several teams - "France B are in group Q and France A are in group X"

[Rich Gobey]

I also get the impression that Platini has a severe dislike for English clubs.

However, i don't believe this particular issue is an indication of that:

England's top clubs could be banned from the Champions League unless they clear their debts as Uefa president Michel Platini wants sides who are in the red to be prevented from entering Europe's top competition. (Daily Star)

 

We'd have to play in our away colours then.

[surf]

I'm not a professional geographer or cartologist but I'm fairly certain Platini is going to struggle to get 54 countries into a European tournament.

 

he'd only need to find his way to wiki:

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Europ...s_by_population

 

 

56 "countries". As the Faroe Islands play under their own flag you couldallow the rest on the same basis.

[ManxRed]

The Isle of Man might qualify!!!

 

[Gomez]

I don't think penalising clubs with excessive debt is in any way a bad thing. The German system has done it for years and the Bundaliga is one of the best run leagues because of it.

 

They'd just be financial chicanery to get around it. ie, A holding company having all the debt, but the club itself having none.