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Platini disapproves of closed-door football matches
Feb 9, 2007 - 6:30:10 PM
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In the wide-ranging interview, Platini also came out in favour of national teams over clubs who want to forbid their players from taking part in some international matches.
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By DPA,
[RxPG] Paris, Feb 9 - New UEFA chief Michel Platini is against playing football matches behind closed doors, a measure the Italian ministry has taken as a response to violence, the French daily Le Parisien reported Friday.
'If you are asking me philosophical questions about closed-door matches, I find that it is a pity to always penalise the clubs when it is people that create the problems,' Platini said in a TV interview.
The Italian interior ministry Thursday ordered five Serie A weekend games to be played behind closed doors because they did not meet security norms contained in an anti-hooligan government decree.
The move followed the death of a policeman during hooligan clashes following a match at Catania.
Platini went on to say that violent supporters must be held accountable for their acts 'or completely banned'.
He said he was prepared 'to stop a match' in case of racist acts or insults in a stadium. 'But it must be done in agreement with the security forces. If you stop a match in the 30th minute with 100,000 spectators in the stadium, the exits must be well supervised.'
In the wide-ranging interview, Platini also came out in favour of national teams over clubs who want to forbid their players from taking part in some international matches.
'This is a great danger,' he said. The sport needs national teams. If the day after tomorrow a judge permits players to refuse a call-up, it will be the end of national teams. I am in favour of punishing players who are selected - but do not come.'
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