FIFA and UEFA believe that football belongs to them, says Michel Platini in an interview in the newspaper L’Équipe, in which he reviews the crisis in the Super League, the proposal to hold the World Cup every two years and the return of Karim Benzema to the French team.
UEFA president from 2007-2015, Platini believes that the European football body has mismanaged the Super League issue.
In particular, it accuses the current head of UEFA, the Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin, of having acted in a “ridiculous” way by insulting the presidents of the big clubs. «The big clubs have wanted to leave for forty years. When you are president of UEFA you have to anticipate, rather than find yourself before the fait accompli, “he insists.
Platini considers that the Superliga project collapsed so quickly because “its leaders made a shitty communication”, in addition to the fact that the media, the fans – “especially the English, as usual” – and the coaches “were in against”.
At this point, the position of the Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, stands out above all, who “is always formidable.”
He also emphasizes that the reform of the Champions League “is nonsense without sense”, because it will prolong the group stage even more, “which does not interest anyone.”
“At UEFA, the philosophy for a long time has always been more money,” accuses the former French star, who insists that if this idea is taken to the extreme “we will end up sponsoring goal networks and posting advertisements on journalists.”
Likewise, he is against the idea of holding the World Cup every two years, something that he says was already “the dream” of Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA from 1998 to 2015. “The World Cup every four years is history . It is something rare and valuable, “he emphasizes.
“Contrary to what FIFA and UEFA think, football does not belong to them,” he says emphatically.
Platini also points out that he does not have any kind of relationship with Ceferin. “We didn’t have a lot, but now, none.”
«I can understand it: he is part of those politicians who have not played football and are living his moment of glory. If old players like me stand by their side, they don’t exist ”, he attacks.
The European Championship that starts in a few weeks, which is played in several countries and not just one, was Platini’s idea when he was in charge of UEFA, in order to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the tournament in its different forms.
The Frenchman regrets that both UEFA and the organizing countries have not invited him to any match. “It seems that they have forgotten” that role, he notes.
The big news for this tournament in France, current world champion, is the return of Benzema, after five and a half years vetoed by coach Didier Deschamps.
“Everyone knows that Benzema deserves on sporting merits to be in the French national team. If he was not selected, it was for reasons other than football. That is political ”, he affirms emphatically.
Asked why he has been summoned now, when it is already known that the Real Madrid attacker will be tried in October for his alleged complicity in a blackmail case against the French footballer Mathieu Valbuena, Platini considers that “we must ask” the Federation now Deschamps.
“I only see the player,” he says before specifying that he considers that Benzema’s presence “will be good” for the performance of the young star Kylian Mbappé, since the Real Madrid player “has the double talent of playing well himself and to make others play well ». EFE. (JL).