RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Platini: 'Cheating' English Clubs Ruining Football
In his latest anti-English diatribe, Uefa president Michel Platini has said England will not be missed at Euro 2008 because its mercenary Premier League is wrecking football.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
Jun 7, 2008 10:24:55 AM
Uefa president Michel Platini clearly has a huge problem with the
success currently being enjoyed by the English Premier League. He
has accused Chelsea and Manchester United of 'cheating' to reach the
Champions League final because they borrowed money to fund their
teams-building.
Frenchman Platini, 52, claims England,. the founders of the game, do not deserve to be involved in Uefa's Euro 2008 tournament which starts today in Switzerland.
"The fact that England are not at Euro 2008 means nothing to me," he was quoted in The Mirror as saying. "All they had to do was qualify.
"I don't want to say that we will miss England. It would be saying the Croats are rubbish. If England cannot finish in the top two of a group of six teams, that is their problem.
"Club football has got nothing to do with national teams. Apart from Italy and Germany a little, the winners or finalists of the last World Cups are countries who export their players."
And he went on to reiterate concern that the financial strength of the Barclays Premier League, with its wealthy club owners such as Roman Abramovich and the Glazers, needs to be curbed to prevent its clubs using to debt to fund transfers and players' wages.
"In England the passion is exceptional and hooliganism has been beaten but for everything else, something has to be done," said Platini. "I am very disturbed by foreigners buying up English clubs.
"I can't see why Americans invest in these clubs unless it is to make money. It is a constant money chase which has seen this proposal to play a 39th game abroad.
"The objective is no longer to win titles but to make the money to repay debts. Look at the overdrafts of Chelsea and Manchester United. Fifa and Uefa owe it to themselves to fight this. Because nowadays it is the clubs who cheat who are winning."
Platini has an ally in Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who is also criticising English clubs' recruitment of foreign players.
The Barclays Premier League has not yet commented on that latest sniping from the two governing bodies, which some see as smacking of jealousy, although the criticism is hardly likely to support the English FA's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Mark Hinton, Goal.com
Frenchman Platini, 52, claims England,. the founders of the game, do not deserve to be involved in Uefa's Euro 2008 tournament which starts today in Switzerland.
"The fact that England are not at Euro 2008 means nothing to me," he was quoted in The Mirror as saying. "All they had to do was qualify.
"I don't want to say that we will miss England. It would be saying the Croats are rubbish. If England cannot finish in the top two of a group of six teams, that is their problem.
"Club football has got nothing to do with national teams. Apart from Italy and Germany a little, the winners or finalists of the last World Cups are countries who export their players."
And he went on to reiterate concern that the financial strength of the Barclays Premier League, with its wealthy club owners such as Roman Abramovich and the Glazers, needs to be curbed to prevent its clubs using to debt to fund transfers and players' wages.
"In England the passion is exceptional and hooliganism has been beaten but for everything else, something has to be done," said Platini. "I am very disturbed by foreigners buying up English clubs.
"I can't see why Americans invest in these clubs unless it is to make money. It is a constant money chase which has seen this proposal to play a 39th game abroad.
"The objective is no longer to win titles but to make the money to repay debts. Look at the overdrafts of Chelsea and Manchester United. Fifa and Uefa owe it to themselves to fight this. Because nowadays it is the clubs who cheat who are winning."
Platini has an ally in Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who is also criticising English clubs' recruitment of foreign players.
The Barclays Premier League has not yet commented on that latest sniping from the two governing bodies, which some see as smacking of jealousy, although the criticism is hardly likely to support the English FA's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Mark Hinton, Goal.com
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Capello-Terry debacle won't be the last FA scandal
Keir Radnedge takes a trip down memory lane and concludes that the FA will continue to frustrate friend and foe alike following the England manager's resignation
-
Player Ratings: Osasuna 3-2 Barcelona
Goal.com rates the players on show as Pep Guardiola's side suffer another away set back in La Liga at the hands of Jose Luis Mendilibar's men
-
Player Ratings: Udinese 1-2 AC Milan
Substitute Maxi Lopez provided a winning cameo to lift Allegri's men to a comeback win just when it appeared they'd lose second spot to the Zebrette
-
Player Ratings: Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
Wayne Rooney double sends hosts top as Luis Suarez scores at Old Trafford after snubbing Evra handshake
-
Player Ratings: Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal
Thierry Henry comes off the bench to mark Premier League farewell in style with dramatic late winner to complete impressive fightback against Martin O'Neill's side
Advertisement
Advertisement
