Spawn Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...9/sfnbon109.xml Michel Platini slams Premier League's planBy David Bond, Chief Sports WriterLast Updated: 12:47am GMT 09/02/2008 Have your say Read commentsMichel Platini, the Uefa president, yesterday led an international chorus of disapproval of the Premier League's plans to go globall by ridiculing the proposal to play 10 extra matches a season overseas as a "joke".# Clive Tyldesley: Globalisation is fans' fault# Going global: Possible Premier League venues# Football fans' forum | Jim White on League plansAs world governing body Fifa announced the idea for the "international round" would be examined by their executive committee next month, Platini told The Daily Telegraph he believed it would never get the backing of the sport's international ruling bodies. Michel Platini slams Premier League's planPoint made: Michel Platini opposes the Premier League schemeAlthough the Premier League insisted last night that the project required only the blessing of the Football Association and those federations eventually chosen to stage the fixtures, the opposition of Platini and Fifa president Sepp Blatter threatens to kill the scheme at birth.It has also placed the League on a fresh collision course with the Uefa president, who has repeatedly attacked the English game for putting money and commercial opportunities before sporting interests."It's a strange and comical idea," the former France international said. "I was laughing. I laughed because it will never be received by Fifa, by the fans and by the national associations. It's a nonsense idea. It's like if I am president of Uefa and I put the house of Uefa in China."It's ironic. Soon you will have in England no English presidents, you already have no English coach, you have no English players and maybe now you will have no clubs playing in England. It's a joke."Platini revealed that he had discussed the League's plans, approved by the 20 club chairmen at a meeting on Thursday, with Blatter in a telephone conversation yesterday morning. He said the two men agreed that exporting European club games to parts of the world where the game was trying to develop would only serve to stifle progress in those countries.He added that the proposal, which could see English teams playing 10 matches across one January weekend in cities such as Sydney, Beijing and Los Angeles, risked eroding the identities of Premier League clubs."I am sorry, but the business of China needs to belong to the clubs of China," Platini said. "But [the Premier League] want to expand their sponsors, their TV rights. It's always for the same reason."You should always represent your fans. I don't know why you have to play in China, because your fans are in Liverpool or in Wigan or Portsmouth. If you belong to a team, you play for your team and your city."I had a phone call with Mr Blatter this morning and we share the same idea that it's the responsibility of the national associations, and I am sure they will never accept it because it's not good for football. I think the FA of England will oppose it. The beauty of football is you have some values, you have the teams, you have the fans, you represent something important and you are not a travelling circus. You are not a show, we are part of 100 years of history."Platini's scathing attack came as Fifa said they would be looking closely at the idea when their executive committee meet on March 14 in Zurich. Under Articles 76 and 77 of the Fifa statutes, the game's governing body have the final say on international matches played in other territories.But the Premier League argue it is beyond Fifa's jurisdiction, as their idea involves domestic fixtures being played internationally. In those circumstances, Fifa's rules require only the two national associations concerned to approve it.Regardless of the Fifa rulebook, it is clear the political implications of the League's £80 million idea could be far more significant. With England bidding for the 2018 World Cup, the FA know the move could be damaging to their chances. The backlash in Asia, where there has been opposition in the past to pre-season tours involving English clubs, could also be crucial.# No appetite for Old Firm derbies abroadYesterday the head of the Japanese FA, Junji Ogura, said: "It sounds problematic. We are, in principle, opposed to having their Premier League games in Japan, as we have to protect our league and clubs."Closer to home, Prime Minister Gordon Brown echoed Platini's views by insisting fans' interests must be put first. He said: "Let's see what the fans say about this. I think it's important to recognise that all the money has got to go back into the game, so that the fans get the benefit." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquaman Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 LMAO sonned england hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 Hopefully he puts an end to it before it starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Q Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 The man is still a prick. Will do anything to stop english football, this may do the best thing he can do though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DINKY Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 dont like some of his veiws but man is chatting alot of sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkman Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 Hopefully he puts an end to it before it starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojo Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 He's a fool but that quote is fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEIRELES. Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 Ended arsenal DIFFERENT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humble Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 Ended arsenal DIFFERENT.Thats what I was thinking still.The Subliminals are alot. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Coquelin Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 Ended arsenal DIFFERENT.Thats what I was thinking still.The indirects are airhe don't give a sh*t about the fanshe'd do anything to stifle the league Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dopa Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 i dont really like but he's making a point stillsoon the english league wont be english anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DINKY Posted February 9, 2008 Report Share Posted February 9, 2008 the preimer league is already foreighn league the real english league starts at championship and they also have lots of dodgey forghners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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yh i see this was joke
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MEIRELES.
Ended arsenal DIFFERENT.
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Humble
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Francis Coquelin
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Dopa
i dont really like but he's making a point stillsoon the english league wont be english anymore
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DINKY
the preimer league is already foreighn league the real english league starts at championship and they also have lots of dodgey forghners
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