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Platini in favour of Champions League club limits
AFP
December 28, 2006
PARIS (AFP) - French legend Michel Platini has vowed to limit English, Italian and Spanish representation in the Champions League to three clubs if he wins election as UEFA president next month.
The former St Etienne and Juventus midfielder is challenging present UEFA chief Lennart Johansson for the powerful position with the election due on January 26. Johansson has been in the job since 1990.
In a five-point programme outlining his policy priorities, Platini said that he felt there were too many clubs from the big European leagues taking part in the continent's premier tournament.
At present, four teams from England, Spain and Italy qualify for the lucrative Champions League with sides from smaller leagues having to battle through three qualifying rounds before reaching the group stages.
"I am in favour of setting a maximum of three clubs per country in order to allow more countries to be involved in the competition," Platini said in his programme.
The proposal has already sparked opposition from 18 wealthy European sides, including Barcelona, AC Milan, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Lyon, who form the G14 lobby and they have made clear their preference for Johansson.
Platini has also vowed to ease the growing tensions between clubs and countries over the availability of players.
"Let's battle back against all the ills that threaten our sport - racism, xenophobia, shady financial deals, illegal betting, unscrupulous agents and doping," he said.
AFP
December 28, 2006
PARIS (AFP) - French legend Michel Platini has vowed to limit English, Italian and Spanish representation in the Champions League to three clubs if he wins election as UEFA president next month.
The former St Etienne and Juventus midfielder is challenging present UEFA chief Lennart Johansson for the powerful position with the election due on January 26. Johansson has been in the job since 1990.
In a five-point programme outlining his policy priorities, Platini said that he felt there were too many clubs from the big European leagues taking part in the continent's premier tournament.
At present, four teams from England, Spain and Italy qualify for the lucrative Champions League with sides from smaller leagues having to battle through three qualifying rounds before reaching the group stages.
"I am in favour of setting a maximum of three clubs per country in order to allow more countries to be involved in the competition," Platini said in his programme.
The proposal has already sparked opposition from 18 wealthy European sides, including Barcelona, AC Milan, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Lyon, who form the G14 lobby and they have made clear their preference for Johansson.
Platini has also vowed to ease the growing tensions between clubs and countries over the availability of players.
"Let's battle back against all the ills that threaten our sport - racism, xenophobia, shady financial deals, illegal betting, unscrupulous agents and doping," he said.
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