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Platini 'happy' with English dominance

Sun 10 May, 09:12 AM


UEFA president Michel Platini insists he would have been "happy" to see a second successive all-English Champions League final.

Conspiracy theories abounded after referee Tom Henning Ovrebo turned down several strong penalty claims from Chelsea in their last-gasp semi-final aggregate defeat to Barcelona in midweek.

But Platini, a former European champion with Juventus, told the Mail on Sunday: "If there had been two English clubs in the final I would have been happy because I respect the result of the competition."

With Manchester United already through to the final in Rome, it was suggested that European football's governing body, and in particular their controversial figurehead, would be loathe to see two Barclays Premier League clubs contest the showpiece once again.

"It's not about the nationality of the team. I will always respect the result. If there were two English clubs I would be as happy as if there were two German clubs," he added.

"The balance in European football always changes. I always say, you had two Italian clubs in the final in Manchester six years ago and two Spanish clubs in 2000. That's not bad."

 

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

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  1. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter what­ Platini thinks. As long as English teams continue to­ beat their European rivals, we will dominate Europe. If­ they change the system, as has been talked about, to­ limit teams to having to play a minimum of 5 players­ from the teams country of origin, that's fine. It­ will apply to Italian, German, Spanish and French clubs­ too. Take a close look at the top tems in Europe.­ Barcelona would have half their squad ineligible.­ Messi, Henry, Eto'o, Toure Yaya, Adibal, Da Silva,­ Hleb, Campos, Kieta, Gudjohnsen, Cacares. none of these­ players are Spanish. I'm sure if I looked, the same­ is true all across Europe. Platini can go and use­ copious amount of Paxo in his nether regions. The EPL­ is here to stay and will continue to dominate whatever­ that idiot Frenchman has to say.

    From David, on Tue 12 May 5:42AM
  2. f**king disgrace

    From addin dexire 18, on Tue 12 May 5:21AM
  3. There IS a CONSPRIRACY I tell you! First let me lay it­ out: Chelsea cannot win on the pitch and all attempts­ to get games awarded in UEFA offices have been blocked!­ THE NERVE!!! The proof: Chelsea NEVER wins anything!!!

    From DaGringo, on Tue 12 May 4:03AM
  4. lies,pure lies.i can smell the s%it.

    From jamie, on Mon 11 May 7:45PM
  5. LLies. He is lieing because of the criticism I and­ wise guys in this forum have realised all what he is.­ This is cover-up.We will continue our criticism to him­ and his boss Blatter until they recind the 6+5 rule

    From Michael, on Mon 11 May 1:29PM
  6. platini is a raving lunatic ! he has spent most of this­ season saying how bad the premier league is,and that­ all the money is ruining the game.but in true­ uefa/platini style it was ok for platini to join­ juventus for silly money.come on you all remember those­ days when italian clubs bought all the best players,and­ in that case bought the european titles.platin do us­ all a favour,rent the space shuttle and dissapear. it­ is platini and his stupid mouth that is ruining­ football.

    From peterjmac, on Mon 11 May 11:20AM
  7. The referee's conspiracy in last week Uefa CL semi­ final between Chelsea and Barcelona was an illogical­ act's. look, i think the uefa officials are aware­ of what was done to chelsea by the referee's­ though. cos, if you look at chelsea current form. it­ means that, they were incredibly capable of not only­ making it through to the final, but also claiming the­ uefa CL this season. but for some reasons, they were­ denied by both uefa officials and referee's cos if­ you observe what was done to chelsea, will reveal that,­ it was plan by the both parties. but they shall never­ be forgiving for what they've done. and for all­ what platini said was an opposite words. we don't­ need to listen to such a statements. such a statements­ is like saying something that is from your heart.

    From VarleeK, on Mon 11 May 6:12AM
  8. if i may ask what was done to chelsea?

    From Armstrong Ayuk, on Sun 10 May 9:06PM
  9. I hope there would be a fair game on the 27th.­ Manchester United has got to win to fully prove that­ English clubs can win with or without the referee's­ conspiracy. Chelsea leaned too much on the referee and­ on their penalties. If they had continued to play­ despite the referee's so blatatant cheating, they­ wouldn't have given Iniesta that opportunity to­ score! Here in France, people are already saying that­ the Catalans would win the Red Devils judging from what­ happened to Chelsea! Even if it might have been decided­ that a spanish country would have to play the finals, i­ hope it wasn't decided that they would win. NO MORE­ CONSPIRACY and CHEATING!
    By the way, Platini said he­ would have been 'happy'to see 2 English clubs­ in the final, but his last speech(last paragraph)­ contradicts his previous words. If the 'Balance in­ European football always' changes, that doesn't­ mean Chelsea had to be cheated out to keep the changes­ on. We don't need those histories! Nothing­ justifies the Referee's actions!

    From goody, on Sun 10 May 1:30PM
  10. Well you can't blame Platini if most people think­ what he just said was rather dumb. Many people call me­ a dumb blonde for that very reason, cos people say I­ ask dumb questions and said dumb things all the­ time.

    Here is one of my dumb questions:

    Why does the­ writer of this article put the word happy in inverted­ comas "happy" ?

    From dumbblondespeaks, on Sun 10 May 12:12PM
  11. Well you can't blame Platini if most people think­ what he just said was rather dumb. Many people call me­ a dumb blonde for that very reason, cos people say I­ ask dumb questions and said dumb things all the­ time.

    Here is one of my dumb question:

    Why is the­ writer of this article put the word happy in inverted­ comas "happy" ?

    From dumbblondespeaks, on Sun 10 May 12:09PM
  12. Excuse me Mr Platini but we are dominating Europe not­ because we want to please you but because we are good.­ Accept that. Any of the top four teams in the EPL have­ a better chance of winning the CL than any of the best­ sides in Europe. No disrespect to them.

    From cokrowinoto, on Sun 10 May 10:51AM
  13. It is a big shame for what was done to Chelsea by the­ referree that rules are not followed.The situation was­ clear that for non of the officials to have indicated­ those penalties even to the referree had caused the­ stories of planned harted against Chelsea which should­ have been in the final. The big question is why will­ they UEFA take decision against Drogba next week? Will­ they also replay those penalties for Chelsea to reach­ the final? UEFA should be justice as the world had­ started to see biasness for what they have for Drogba!­ Why will given any call for UEFA to given take decision­ on Drogba next week? Or its it the new plans against­ his rising profile as one of the best attackers in the­ world! Enough of this call.Football had advance to the­ level for UEFA to used video in some actions that­ caused replay.These are the news excepting and apology­ to Chelsea for the bad officiating against them in the­ semi final.

    From George, on Sun 10 May 10:35AM
  14. Platini has no choice !

    From Steve WWFC, on Sun 10 May 10:23AM
  15. It is a lie you people in the UEFA planted this evil­ and God will never leave unpunished for this daylight­ robbery done to Chelsea and England as a whole.

    From hussainiado, on Sun 10 May 10:07AM
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