UEFA boss warns of the ‘dangers’ threatening sport
EUROPA WINNERS TO GET CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT
LONDON: Michel Platini, the president of European football’s governing body UEFA yesterday called for action against the three dangers threatening football: match-fixing, discrimination and financial excess. “The main problem is match-fixing and betting,” said Platini at the UEFA congress in London. “Our match monitoring systems and network of integrity officers in each country are of course useful and even essential, but they are not enough.
“We are not dealing with petty criminals looking to make ends meet. “It seems that we are in some cases dealing with mafia-type organizations that use some games, and therefore our sport, to launder dirty money. “One game rigged is one match too many, as it strikes at the soul of our sport, the very essence of the game. “I ask at least that each country adopts a specific national law on matchfixing to finally provide the necessary legal tools to condemn uncompromising cheats.” In his speech, Platini also tackled “the recurrent problem of discrimination, whether racial or sexual, which still exists in football.”
Beyond “prevention and education,” the French UEFA president also stressed the need for sanctions. Later on, the UEFA Congress will vote on a resolution strengthening sanctions against the perpetrators of racist acts in stadiums, whether they are players, officials or supporters.
Platini also put UEFA’s Financial Fair Play scheme in the spotlight and spoke of the worrying financial situation at certain clubs in Europe. “To ensure that the current system doesn’t collapse and the bubble doesn’t burst, it is the duty of UEFA to intervene and it shall be the duty of independent bodies to punish the few clubs who have not realized that football cannot live above its means,” he insisted. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Meanwhile, the winners of the Europa League will automatically qualify for a place in the lucrative Champions League from 2015, UEFA announced yesterday. UEFA president said the winner of the 2014-15 Europa League would play in the 2015-16 Champions League. The move comes in a bid to boost the appeal of the second-tier tournament.
“As was proven with this year’s magnificent final, the UEFA Europa League has gone from strength to strength, but we wanted to give clubs a further incentive, so that all of them play with a desire to win the competition,” Platini said. “By guaranteeing access to the UEFA Champions League for the winners, we are convinced that the UEFA Europa League will increase its appeal for clubs and their supporters.”