Kevin LustigPlatini comes out against debt in the Champions League
June 27th 2008 22:46
Platini sees the issue of debt among the top clubs as being one of the priorities of his administration at the head of UEFA and hopes to have the problem resolved in "four or five years". Two clubs with substantial debts that would be affected by such a ban are, of course, this year's Champions League finalists Manchester United and Chelsea. Platini mentioned both clubs by name, although he also insisted that he was speaking about all clubs and not just the English juggernauts.
Because United and Chelsea are probably the highest-profile clubs in the world with sizable debts at the moment, many commentators have seen an anti-Premier League bent to Platini's comments. However, the UEFA chief's idea is not wholly original. In fact, several leagues across the continent already have anti-debt regulations, and CSKA Sophia of Bulgaria were already banned from this season's Champions League for their debt issues. In CSKA's case, however, the ruling came from their own domestic footballing body. If UEFA were to attempt to eliminate club debt, it would be the first time in the European footballing agency's history that they dealt so specifically and directly with club finances.
Michel Platini made the remarks on June 26, not long after claiming that AC Milan shouldn't have been allowed to compete in the 2007 Champions League and that he is disappointed with UEFA's decision to allow FC Porto into next year's competition.
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