View Full Version : Platini tells Brown: Money is spoiling game
richdeniro
19-09-2007, 09:39 PM
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=464479&cc=5739
Updated: Sep. 19, 2007
Platini tells Brown: Money is spoiling game
UEFA president Michel Platini has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking for his help in battling 'the malign and ever-present influence of money' in the modern game.
Platini's letter, which was sent to all European leaders, calls on governments to accept their role as 'the last hope for a healthy and balanced future of European football'.
England has been a hotbed for foreign investment in recent years and with the current broadcast deal far outstripping its predecessors the professional game is currently awash with cash.
And Platini fears the prevalence of money could lead to a dangerous shift in traditional values.
Platini's letter, reproduced in the Daily Telegraph, said: 'A serious threat hangs over the development of European football: the malign and ever-present influence of money.
'Money has always been in sport and football has had a professional component for 150 years.
'But money has never been the ultimate objective of football: the main purpose has always been to win trophies.
'For the first time we may be entering an era in which financial profit alone will be the measure of sporting success.'
There had been speculation that the new European Union Reform Treaty would give football's governing bodies more power to tackle inequalities in the game as well as battling doping and a lack of homegrown talent in teams - a problem the Premier League suffers chronically from.
But Platini is upset that recommendations proposed by Portuguese minister Jose Luis Arnaut have been rejected in favour of a less strongly-worded article which many fear could leave the sport open to legal challenges from clubs and players who do not agree with any tough new measures.
'This article doesn't go far enough to protect football from the rampant commercialism which assails on all sides.
'Millions of football fans, for whom I speak, are calling on Europe to do more to defend our football and the European sporting model based on financial solidarity between rich and poor, which is the only way to guarantee the values we cherish.
'If I am turning to you, the heads of state of government, it is because you represent the last hope for a healthy and balanced future of European football.'
Oliver Varcoe
19-09-2007, 09:42 PM
Agree with the frogger.
joyce the voice
19-09-2007, 09:42 PM
Platini speaks a lot of sense
Lord Flange
20-09-2007, 11:40 AM
Originally posted by joyce the voice
Platini speaks a lot of sense
He appears to be a breath of fresh air, not afraid to speak his mind and seems to have a common ground with the ordinary fan.
No doubt he'll be voted out in a year or so :rolleyes:
Son of Selhurst
20-09-2007, 11:49 AM
Pffft....
Salary caps for all footballers :p
ebyeeckeagle
20-09-2007, 11:52 AM
Missed the boat really. The world has moved on. What does he want - more Government interference? Something FIFA don't allow by their lawbook.
Al From Bromley
20-09-2007, 12:01 PM
Been saying as much for ages. Football is ••••ed. All about who has the biggest pot to piss in. I mean, come on, look at exactl who owns these clubs. They are the playthings of the mega rich and unless you are one of the chosen few you can forget about any notion of winning the FA Cup or finishing in the top sixc on the premiership or anything remotely like that. Football used to be all about the underdog sometimes coming through, the excitement of a cup run and the knowledge that although you were likely to get beat, maybe, just maybe you could pull of an unlikely victory at somewhere like Old Trafford or Highbury. Sadly, those days are gone, never to return unless some daft rich benefactor decides that palace is the place to be. Maybe that's why more and more people are walking away from the game. it just doesn't have the same buzz and air of anticipation about it.
nookiebear
20-09-2007, 01:32 PM
Agree with him but don't fancy his chances of getting anything done
Football gets more greedy every season
Son of Ron
20-09-2007, 01:39 PM
I agree with Platini, but would we be saying the same if we were fans of the top 4 or one of the clubs with new foreign investement. I doubt it, we'd all be saying come on Mr Yevchenko spend your billions on us......
Santos-er
20-09-2007, 01:43 PM
Labour have practically invited these people in with their tax rules for the wealthy. Platini is, unfortunately, a modern day Canute.
Gooders
20-09-2007, 01:49 PM
The solution (or at least a part of it) is quite simple.
Pass a Europe-wide rule (in fact, why not World-wide?) that no club can have more than 5 foreign nationals on its books.
Also, if you have a rule that foreign players that haven't played in 75% of recent games for their country can't be signed how about actually enforcing it on occasions rather than overturning it every time on appeal?
In the longer term, the only thing that will work for the good of the game is for fans to rebel and stop watching the saturation coverage of football on TV but in the world of the couch potato that we now inhabit that seems extremely unlikely.
307c
Santos-er
20-09-2007, 01:55 PM
The trouble is, every suggestion that FIFA and UEFA come up with to try and make the game "fairer" is met by howling and gnashing teeth from G14, who threaten legal action every time.
Gooders
20-09-2007, 01:59 PM
Originally posted by Santos-er
The trouble is, every suggestion that FIFA and UEFA come up with to try and make the game "fairer" is met by howling and gnashing teeth from G14, who threaten legal action every time.
True-ish but all the power used to sit with the big Italian and Spanish clubs and it's only now that it resides in the Premier League that people like Platini will start bleating about it. They were happy enough when it was Juve, Milan, Barcelona and Madrid that held all the trump cards.
Sir.S.C Remembered
20-09-2007, 03:15 PM
Sadly too late and unrealistic and will not be supportive by those who it would need to be to happen
Celestial Empire
20-09-2007, 05:23 PM
Originally posted by Gooders
True-ish but all the power used to sit with the big Italian and Spanish clubs and it's only now that it resides in the Premier League that people like Platini will start bleating about it. They were happy enough when it was Juve, Milan, Barcelona and Madrid that held all the trump cards.
Nail on head. :p
As long as Broon sticks to advising Fife, Gretna and Hamilton Academicals to stop spending money, then fine, but he should keep his kilt from getting tangled up in the English game.:hmph:
Vince Hilaire's Afro
20-09-2007, 07:13 PM
Does Platini for a minute think that the people he's addressing, as well as those he's accusing, are not aware of all this already?
richdeniro
20-09-2007, 08:14 PM
http://sport.scotsman.com/football.cfm?id=1504972007
Platini plea rejected by Prime Minister
MARTYN ZIEGLER
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has rejected a plea by UEFA president Michel Platini for the Government to become directly involved in battling "the malign and ever-present influence of money" in football.
Platini has written to all European heads of government as his "last hope for a healthy and balanced future of European football", calling for support to change the European Commission's rules on sport.
Brown however believes that the influx of money in football has brought many benefits and that it is up to the game's governing bodies to address Platini's concerns.
His tough stance is somewhat surprising given that Platini will be one of the key figures England need to have on their side for a successful bid for the 2018 World Cup - a campaign that Brown himself is very keen on. A Downing Street spokesperson said: "Platini's letter has raised some important issues that fans care about and we do too.
"But these are matters for national football authorities to address and they should respond directly to fans' concerns. We will continue to encourage them to do so.
"The Government recognises and supports the autonomy of sport and its right to self-regulation. The running of football is down to the game's authorities and Government can assist when asked."
In his letter Platini expressed fears the prevalence of money could lead to a dangerous shift in traditional values.
He wrote: "A serious threat hangs over the development of European football: the malign and ever-present influence of money.
"Money has always been in sport and football has had a professional component for 150 years. But money has never been the ultimate objective of football: the main purpose has always been to win trophies.
"For the first time we may be entering an era in which financial profit alone will be the measure of sporting success."
Downing Street, however, argues that money is working its way down from the top. The spokesperson added: "We believe that football can find a way forward. The recent Premier League broadcasting deal highlights this with money being split amongst the League's clubs as well as being redistributed to the grassroots."
There had been speculation that the new European Union Reform Treaty would give football's governing bodies more power to tackle inequalities in the game and the increase in foreign players. But Platini is upset that recommendations proposed by Portuguese minister Jose Luis Arnaut have been rejected in favour of a weaker version that could leave the sport open to legal challenges from clubs and players who do not agree with new measures.
"This article doesn't go far enough to protect football from the rampant commercialism which assails on all sides," added Platini in his letter.
Meanwhile, Platini's special adviser William Gaillard said that the former French international believed the billionaire backers of Manchester United and Liverpool were behind the opposition to plans to give domestic cup winners a Champions League spot. Businessman Malcolm Glazer took over United in 2005, while fellow Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks gained control of Liverpool earlier this year.
Last week G14, which represents 18 of Europe's most powerful clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool, said it was opposed to the new proposals.
"I know G14 have said this but from our discussions it seems the main opposition is at Liverpool and Manchester United who have investors out to make a quick buck on their investment and are only looking at the financial risks of the reform plan and not the sporting merits," Gaillard said.
United were unavailable for comment, while Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry described the letter and Gaillard's comments as "absurd".
imashed
20-09-2007, 08:45 PM
Originally posted by Gooders
The solution (or at least a part of it) is quite simple.
Pass a Europe-wide rule (in fact, why not World-wide?) that no club can have more than 5 foreign nationals on its books.
Also, if you have a rule that foreign players that haven't played in 75% of recent games for their country can't be signed how about actually enforcing it on occasions rather than overturning it every time on appeal?
In the longer term, the only thing that will work for the good of the game is for fans to rebel and stop watching the saturation coverage of football on TV but in the world of the couch potato that we now inhabit that seems extremely unlikely.
agree with the above i think arsenal once again fielded a team without
a single englishman the other night if iam not mistaken
imashed
20-09-2007, 08:49 PM
Originally posted by richdeniro
http://sport.scotsman.com/football.cfm?id=1504972007
Platini plea rejected by Prime Minister
MARTYN ZIEGLER
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has rejected a plea by UEFA president Michel Platini for the Government to become directly involved in battling "the malign and ever-present influence of money" in football.
Platini has written to all European heads of government as his "last hope for a healthy and balanced future of European football", calling for support to change the European Commission's rules on sport.
Brown however believes that the influx of money in football has brought many benefits and that it is up to the game's governing bodies to address Platini's concerns.
His tough stance is somewhat surprising given that Platini will be one of the key figures England need to have on their side for a successful bid for the 2018 World Cup - a campaign that Brown himself is very keen on. A Downing Street spokesperson said: "Platini's letter has raised some important issues that fans care about and we do too.
"But these are matters for national football authorities to address and they should respond directly to fans' concerns. We will continue to encourage them to do so.
"The Government recognises and supports the autonomy of sport and its right to self-regulation. The running of football is down to the game's authorities and Government can assist when asked."
In his letter Platini expressed fears the prevalence of money could lead to a dangerous shift in traditional values.
He wrote: "A serious threat hangs over the development of European football: the malign and ever-present influence of money.
"Money has always been in sport and football has had a professional component for 150 years. But money has never been the ultimate objective of football: the main purpose has always been to win trophies.
"For the first time we may be entering an era in which financial profit alone will be the measure of sporting success."
Downing Street, however, argues that money is working its way down from the top. The spokesperson added: "We believe that football can find a way forward. The recent Premier League broadcasting deal highlights this with money being split amongst the League's clubs as well as being redistributed to the grassroots."
There had been speculation that the new European Union Reform Treaty would give football's governing bodies more power to tackle inequalities in the game and the increase in foreign players. But Platini is upset that recommendations proposed by Portuguese minister Jose Luis Arnaut have been rejected in favour of a weaker version that could leave the sport open to legal challenges from clubs and players who do not agree with new measures.
"This article doesn't go far enough to protect football from the rampant commercialism which assails on all sides," added Platini in his letter.
Meanwhile, Platini's special adviser William Gaillard said that the former French international believed the billionaire backers of Manchester United and Liverpool were behind the opposition to plans to give domestic cup winners a Champions League spot. Businessman Malcolm Glazer took over United in 2005, while fellow Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks gained control of Liverpool earlier this year.
Last week G14, which represents 18 of Europe's most powerful clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool, said it was opposed to the new proposals.
"I know G14 have said this but from our discussions it seems the main opposition is at Liverpool and Manchester United who have investors out to make a quick buck on their investment and are only looking at the financial risks of the reform plan and not the sporting merits," Gaillard said.
United were unavailable for comment, while Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry described the letter and Gaillard's comments as "absurd".
it would be nice to see these g14 lot go it alone the fans would soon get feed up with the travelling and liverpool would prob get banned anyway then they would be begging to rejoin us
e61
sydney eagle
20-09-2007, 08:58 PM
Originally posted by Gooders
True-ish but all the power used to sit with the big Italian and Spanish clubs and it's only now that it resides in the Premier League that people like Platini will start bleating about it. They were happy enough when it was Juve, Milan, Barcelona and Madrid that held all the trump cards. ding ding ding...we have a winner
radiomike
20-09-2007, 09:09 PM
at least something could be done about what constitutes a fit and proper person to run a Premier league club and Brown could at least make a plea for those at the lower end. and even uttered the word that Labout dare now not speak 'redistribution' But no, The Labour government used to represent the least fortunate but those days have clealry gone. Their snouts are deep in the trough.
cpfc4evandeva
21-09-2007, 08:00 AM
He speaks a hell of a lot of sense. The problem is G14 will say its stupid, quite obviously sky will say its stupid and in turn The Sun will say its stupid. Unfortunately all 3 have a huge influence on people.
Celestial Empire
21-09-2007, 05:23 PM
Originally posted by Gooders
The solution (or at least a part of it) is quite simple.
Pass a Europe-wide rule (in fact, why not World-wide?) that no club can have more than 5 foreign nationals on its books.
The Latinos and Gulf countries have already preempted that by handing out passports to all and sundry.
Gooders
21-09-2007, 06:33 PM
Ah yes, good point.
There was a very loud Sherman sitting next to me on the plane back from Florence last week and he had a British passport.
Surfside
22-09-2007, 07:12 AM
Originally posted by Gooders
The solution (or at least a part of it) is quite simple.
Pass a Europe-wide rule (in fact, why not World-wide?) that no club can have more than 5 foreign nationals on its books.
But then the quality goes down. For example look at the number of Brazilians around the world. Bring in that rule, and the number one league in the world is no longer in Europe...
The Omen
22-09-2007, 07:45 AM
Originally posted by Surfside
But then the quality goes down. For example look at the number of Brazilians around the world. Bring in that rule, and the number one league in the world is no longer in Europe...
That doesn't have to be the outcome. It could mean that the distribution of real quality players is wide spread meaning teams even in the lower parts of the Premiership or top half of the Championship could still have a world class player.
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