UEFA President Michel Platini has nailed his colours to the mast and left everyone in no doubt that he will be supporting Barcelona in the Champions League final.
It has long been suspected that Platini is not a fan of English football and he has now told Spanish newspaper El Mundo: "Barcelona represents my philosophy, not just in their style of play, but how they form their footballers.
"I believe players should be protected until they are 18, more for moral reasons than economic ones.
"They embody the ideals of Spanish football, which represents technique, an easy and open style of play. It seduces me."
This comes just a day after Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff said he "did not buy" the English domination of the Champions League because of the over-reliance on foreign players.
Your Comments
G_United
"I agree irishkop. I cant see how there isnt going to be some kind of violence happening at Rome. The ultras are notorious and the police are known for their bias towards English fans. Considering the behaviour of these so called fans and the history between English and italian fans I find it incredulous that eufa didnt change the venue. The english are still tarred as being mindless, lager drinking thugs that are there just for a rumble. That kind of behaviour is all but expunged from the English game and yet we are reminded of our past every year whilst other countries get away with atrocious behaviour. galatasary springs to mind. They killed 2 leeds fans, the club even endorsed its fans and nothing happens. Then you have the opposite side of the coin where an English man drops a piece of litter and there is a world debate on wether England should be banned from european football. Football is a world wide phenomenon and as such should bring countries closer together (except obvious rivalries of course). They go on about getting racism out of football and yet continue to persecute England and its clubs and fans. It wouldnt surprise that platini came out with these comments in order to inflame the English, thus provoking them into causing vandalsim at Rome and thereby giving them an exscuse to ban English clubs from europe once more."
IrishKopiteMkII
"@IOMMUFC: I'd like to take up your point if I may.
On the first point you raise, yes, the story goes that there was a gun and a masked fan in the Juventus crowd - corroborated or not. HOWEVER as much as I love my fellow Reds I would never try to say for one moment we were even remotely blameless in what ensued.
As for Rome I do feel the same as you. Some months ago there was talk of switching venues. UEFA were adamant that it was 'safer' to keep to Rome. Now, I must admit I have never been and this is an opinion formed from afar...
BUT the Rome police do seem a nightmare. It seems as if they'll turn a blind eye to the more than casual racism and facism of the Lazio and Roma ultras. Running battles before and after the game seem commonplace also.
However, once an English team and it's fans are in town they get, as you say, trigger happy and will mete out a beating with their truncheons to anyone who so much as looks at them - or so it seems.
Even if they Police the designated areas and suggest routes to the ground there is still, in my opinion, plenty of local Ultras who will be 'spoliing' and know the lay of the land better. I bet there'll be plenty of provocation for United fans.
Would be keen to see if anyone else feels this way. There certainly seemed to be something rotten in the state of Denmark regarding UEFA's insistence on Rome.
As an aside for any Italian fans it's not an anti-Italy post. I've been to the Milan derby twice now and that is the best Policing I have ever seen - apart from how they insist you throw lighters into a large bin upon entrance...not that I smoke but in Italy of all places! Are they trying to get people on edge/angry? Matches seemed to be fine - WTF? I've rarely felt so safe though. Perhaps it's just the Roman police that are heavy-handed? "
G_United
"Deary deary me. Platini is so blinkered he doesnt see how these comments and others like them, show him to be the totally biased twonk that he is. He is blinkered that much he would be able to make it as a pool fan methinks. As for the few foreigners and of course the usual Utd haters that find nothing wrong with platini's comments, lets boil it down so you can understand our "knee jerk reaction". This isn't the first time that platini (and blatter) have been at loggerheads over english football. They only deride english football even though other european countries have exactly the same problems. Its not what they spout its the fact its only intended for english football that really gets on our goat. The other point we also have to bear is the fact that platini with his constant jibes at English football is bringing the game into disrepute. If we end up with some bad reffing decisions that go in barca's favour then who in their right mind wouldnt be thinking its due to the ref being told what to do by platini? Also for the idiots that go on about barca playing beautiful football..... your point being? liverpool destroyed madrid with beautiful attacking football, arsenal are known for their beautiful attacking football and so are Utd (granted not prevelent this year)... so again your point please? Both pool and Utd have a very good youth system. You will find a lot of ex Utd youths playing for prem and championship teams alike and have a few that have played first team football this year. From all accounts pool also have a few youths that promise to be top players. Yes some clubs have a lot of foreigners but this is indicative of all leagues around the world so how is this an English problem only? If you can get past your hatred of Utd and/or English football then you would understand our unhappiness at the bigotry of platini's comments."
TheSpionExile
"I hate ManU but will be cheering them on in Rome anyway. Not because of Platini, but because they're representing the English Premiership. Platini's comments irritate me, but I won't let him get under my skin - he's just a xenophobic, small-minded man."
whiteruud
"Somebody tell me if I'm off base but I thought the head of Fifa was supposed to appear a Neutral !!!, isn't this a conflict of intrest !,who is he trying to impress by making this statement days before the European Cup Final !!!!!. He really does hate English teams.He can't bear the fact that the Premiership is the most watch Football League on the planet,several hundred million watch teams like Arsenal,Manchester United,Chelsea and Liverpool weekly.In decades past when Italian teams and Spanish teams dominated Europe ,I did not hear Fifa whine about their riches.Platini should be replaced preferably with someone from England as they have a bigger influence on European Football than any other country in Europe and all the top players want to play there.Platini needs to pull his head out of his butt,Europe is a smaller place now,go to any country in the Common market and you'll find people from many other european countries living and working their.Also many South Americans are playing in the Italian, Spanish ,French and German leagues.So you can cut the bull Platini you have just confirmed what we already knew.You should not be head of Fifa and you are a blight on the beautiful game. "
Chocolateleg
"Did Cruyff and Platini not comment on Shaktar Donetsk's team in the UEFA Cup Final? Their starting 11 had 3 Ukrainians. Does it only matter when it's English teams involved?"
imgreig
"barcelona will not win the champions league final because man united are the perfect blend of force and flair, whereas barca have the flair but rely on yaya toure to win every challenge, because if he doesnt then their weak backline is exposed"
chris83rry
"Kentyou make a good point with the facts but the bottom line for what most of the guys is that both Platini and Cruyff are talking absolute rubbish and, its seems, are biased against English teams!!!
Barcelona have been successful because of foreigners with the likes of Cruyff, Ronaldo, Figo, Koeman and the rest (Louis Van Gaal team was just dutch!) They are complete hypocrites and as said it doesnt seem right when the UEFA President takes sides.
And as for Messi, well i will admit i didnt know the story but it still doesnt stop the fact that the guy is Argentinian!"
nando1
"I just wanted 2 say good post from GARZER very intresting and a good read with very valid points......ps and kent-blackheart aswell another good post and sorry 2 say but so many ppl on here read the sun then post wat they read not wat they think r know 4 tht matter.................Y.N.W.A"
keenanlfc
"he said he likes how barca play football, who doesnt? Spanish football in general is much better than english football, wathcing two teams at the bottom of the leauge in england is like watching two old boxers exchange low blows, any team in spain trys to player beautiful football, not that effective in the CL against english teams but still nicer to watch!"
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