Manchester United Relief As Vidic Is Given One Match Ban By UEFA

FIFA have issued a statement this afternoon saying that they have decided Nemanja Vidic will serve a one-match ban in the Champions League as punishment for his red card in the Club World Cup final.

Vidic therefore misses the first leg of the last 16 tie against Inter Milan on 24 February. He has also been fined 5,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to just over £3,000.

A statement on FIFA's website reads as follows: "Under the chairmanship of Marcel Mathier (Switzerland), the FIFA Disciplinary Committee today reviewed a number of cases and decided upon disciplinary sanctions following the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008. Takahiro Futagawa, of Gamba Osaka, following his sending-off in the third place play-off on 21 December 2008 has been suspended for two matches and fined CHF 7,000. Nemanja Vidic of Manchester United, following his sending-off during the final of the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup on 21 December 2008 has been suspended for one match and fined CHF 5,000. The suspensions will be carried over to the next club competition match(es) at confederation level, as stated in Article 38, par. 2 d) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. Both decisions are not subject to appeal.".....Back To Home Page...

Michel Platini Plans To Stop Debt And Child Trafficking

I've written before about Michel Platini and his rather bizarre ideas on how he intends to 'improve' the game. To me it sounds more like his 'plan to stop English clubs dominating Europe'. But we all have our own opinions I guess.

The UEFA president did have the grace to say he has no plans to interfere with the domestic league set ups which is amusing, as he has no powers to do so and it is not part of his jurisdiction, but thanks for that anyway Michel.

Platini is complaining about the financial set ups at clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, surprise, surprise. If Platini gets his way it would mean the 'Big Four', who regularly qualify for the Champions Leagues, having to satisfy UEFA rules on debts and even how much they spend on wages. The Premier League are fiercely opposing the proposals.

Platini said: "What UEFA can do - and we are thinking seriously about doing it - is to reinforce and improve our system for granting licences for our own club competitions. 'It is in this way that we wish to contribute to financial fair play, and start responding to the expectations of the various parties involved in our sport. Fiscal rules in Europe are extremely diverse...and the systems of licensing, control and financial management of football clubs involve myriad concepts and different regulations. UEFA is not going to charge itself with the task of harmonising European fiscal issues. UEFA is not going to impose its licensing system on national associations for their own competitions."

Platini has also shown a desire to ban the tansfer of players under the age of 18 within the EU. The Premier League also opposes the latter proposal. He's as good as calling these transfers 'Child Trafficking' which is absolutely ludicrous!

Platini said: "Today, in the world and in Europe, there is trafficking of children. I will not mince my words because the situation is serious. What else do you call a phenomenon whereby children aged 12 or 13 are torn away from their environment and culture to join a business in return for payment? This is what is happening in football. Together with FIFA, we are studying remedies, but measures can already be taken to ban the international transfer of minors, even within the European Union. In numerous European states, strict rules exist which prevent clubs - on threat of sporting sanctions - poaching young players - from their rivals' training centres. However, these rules do not exist at European Union level. It is in this context that we would like to be able to ban international transfers of players under the age of 18 within the EU. This is not to create an obstacle to the free movement of labour - it is an urgent matter relating to helping youngsters in danger."

So if a youngster aged 13 from my country, Romania, who has dreamed of being a footballer since he was 4 or 5 years old and has worked so hard practising and developing his skills is then told his career must go on hold for 5 years until he is 18, this will make it better for everyone involved I guess. No child is 'torn away from their family'. When handling these very young, potential future superstars, I am sure Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and every other team handles it in a very caring manner and offers assistance for families to be with the young boys if and when they become part of the Academy.

Some of these children grow up in extreme poverty, Dimitar Berbatov is a very good example of this. His one and only chance of wealth and a good life was to go down the footballing route and he made it, against all the odds he actually made it. Now Berbatov gives back a great deal to his country by means of helping orphanages and setting up football schools using his own cash.

Mr Platini, I suggest you go and ask Dimitar Berbatov if he felt he was trafficked and torn away from his family and you will hear the truth. Don't try and take away the one chance these kids have of fame and fortune, just to stop English clubs dominating Europe......again!.....Back To Home Page...

How Would We Ever Manage Without Michel Platini ?

This weekend UEFA President Michel Platini had many things to tell us on the future of our beloved game of football. According to recent investigations made by UEFA, one of the main problems causing the dramatic differences of quality between rich and poor clubs, is that the poorer clubs cannot manage debt as well as the richer ones. God alone knows where he got that idea from. I think it also belittles the intelligence of the guys running the smaller clubs. Personally, I think he would have sounded a bit more grown up if he had said the smaller clubs are not guaranteed the cash that the bigger clubs are, which ultimately threatens their ability to make regular repayments. But who am I to criticise Platini or The Slave Blatter !!

He then said: “But there is a wider question, as to whether people can just play the free market, UEFA is concerned first and foremost about the spirit of the game and balance of competition.“

What a clown. I can just see it now, an email arriving on Fergies computer the day after he wins another double next year.

From: The desk of a French tosser. email: lefrenchtwat@yahoo.fr

Dear Fergie, well done my son, another Premier League, Champions League double, amazing. Bad news though old boy. Because you did so well last year it's not fair on the minnows of the game like Chelsea, Arse, Liverpool etc etc so, I'm very sorry, but you can't buy anyone this summer, you have to stick with what you've got. Merci beaucoup, tres bien et aurevoir !

Yeah right, can you imagine Fergie's reaction, he'd turn the reddest he ever has and fly to France and convert Platini into a post op transexual !!

According to recent Club releases, Chelsea and Manchester United owe a record of over 1.2 billion Euros due to excessive loans. Platini stated his awareness that rich and poor clubs will always exist, but the taking in of debt is what causes most of the disadvantages between the world’s various leagues. He has only allowed the recent buying of Manchester City by a foreign investor, as it was the only way to save the club from going bankrupt. LMAO - like they were going bankrupt, he thinks we're as stupid as him. Yet some clubs could not share the same fate, as last year Scotland’s Gretna FC seized to exist due to the excessive loans taken just to remain in competition with the Old Firm (Celtic and Rangers).

During his term, Platini is expected to implement other rules and restrictions to the richer clubs, showing a President capable to work for the “good of the game.”

We all wait with baited breath for the next load of 'merde' he comes out with !!

Ronnie Gets The Golden Boot In His Home Town To Honour His Deceased Father.

Cristiano Ronaldo received the European Golden Boot trophy at a ceremony in his native Madeira on Saturday.

It took place at a hotel in the mid-Atlantic island, fulfilling Ronaldo's wish to receive the award where he was born as a tribute to his late father Diniz Aveiro.

The European Footballer of the Year, who scored 31 goals in the Premier League last season to win the Golden Boot, has been sidelined since surgery on his right ankle in July.

He finished the domestic campaign eight points clear of his closest rival in the race to be Europe's leading goalscorer with the results having been announced by UEFA on June 17.

Spain striker Daniel Guiza was second with 27 Primera Liga goals for Real Mallorca while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's 33 strikes earned Ajax Amsterdam's Netherlands forward third place.

Benfica great Eusebio was the first Portuguese to win the Golden Boot in 1968 and 1973 followed by former Porto striker Fernando Gomes in 1983 and 1985.