European Cup after World Cup have seen a snowballing of disappointment for the English football masses. Spain winning Euro 2008 has pushed our reputation as underachievers further down the lav. And like such great philosophical musings as; Why are we here? Is there a god? Will Robbie Savage ever get a haircut? Click to continue reading...

There had been fears that the 2 countries had fallen too far behind in their preparations for the tournaments but they have been assured that the tournament will take place there but t5hey need to improve their infrastructure ahead of the European Championships in 2012. Platini said: "Both host countries must . Click to continue reading...

UEFA will be strengthening its forces against match fixing and corruption in European Football. UEFA and Yahoo both have articles describing the plans. Click to continue reading...

A ceasefire has been called in the Wenger v Platini war of words said with an overly thick French accent, and an unlikely hero has emerged as the moderator who brokered the deal: Michele Platini's dad. The duo had been bickering after Platini took a subtle shot at Arsene's penchant for signing "prospects" fresh out of [. Click to continue reading...

What an absolute wanker. I know I'm a day or two late on this but I'm busy sometimes too. This man, who somehow weaseled his way into the job of Uefa President just because he used to be a great player, should be removed from the game. If you haven't heard, Platini went on a rant attacking our manager Arsene Wenger. Click to continue reading...

On one side of this sparring match, we have Frenchman Michael Platini, the president of Uefa and the other, good old Arsene Wenger, manager of Arsenal FC. Both were friends for many years but ever since Platini ascends the lofty position of Uefa president, relationships have been strained. Wenger and Platini were embroiled in a bitter [. Click to continue reading...

In one sense, Liverpool have had a perfect start to their season. Six points from two Premier League games and successful passage into the next stage of the Champions League is the best they could have accomplished to date. They've been almost-perfect at the back, conceding just one goal in 390 minutes of football. Click to continue reading...

The final 32 clubs who will partake in this year's Champions League campaign have qualified and are all set for tomorrow's draw - set somewhere in Europe which is easy for Michele Platini to travel to (oh it's in Monaco, how nice). And though the qualifying stages are a bit Champions League Lite, they still [. Click to continue reading...

Bert van Marwijk led Feyenoord to the UEFA Cup victory in 2002. Or did he? This is probably one of the best free kicks ever! Eat your heart out Platini, Beckham and Roberto Carlos. Pierre was da man! Click to continue reading...

With Platini and Blatter aiding the fight for most unpopular football organisation going, I'd almost forgotten how much I despise the FA. We all know the FA love to have a pop at United and it seems they have been given their latest excuse. There was Robbie Fowler's ‘five times' goal celebration, intended to wind up United [. Click to continue reading...

This was an interesting piece of news that Michel Platini proposed that Europeans clubs create a salary cap that would limit their wages to somewhere between 55-65% of their income. This is only a beginning and would have a long way to go before it would be adopted, but the potential could have huge ramifications throughout Europe. Click to continue reading...

Good Saturday to you all.

A fair amount going on so we'll get right into it. New boy Samir Nasri says he's not the new Zidane. Well, here was us thinking we're getting the new Zidane and he spoils it straight away. He says:

I don't think it's fair to have that sort of pressure on a young player.

Click to continue reading...

An excellent article in the Guardian today, on the financing issues of major European clubs, especially those in England. Platini targeting Man United and Chelsea, because of their huge debts Click to continue reading...

I'm blaming Slavan Bilic for this one. What was he doing jumping around like the players after Croatia scored the goal in the 119th minute of the match? He's no longer on the team, he's the coach! You have to maintain your composure and continue coaching, making sure that your team is organized to defend the final 2 minutes or so that are left in the game. Click to continue reading...

I'm blaming Slavan Bilic for this one. What was he doing jumping around like the players after Croatia scored the goal in the 119th minute of the match? He's no longer on the team, he's the coach! You have to maintain your composure and continue coaching, making sure that your team is organized to defend the final 2 minutes or so that are left in the game. Click to continue reading...

Headline news on BBC Sport shows both FIFA's insistence in pushing a 6+5 rule as well as a study stating that Premiership teams fielded an all-time low number of English players this past season.

My silence thanks to a lack of topics during the past week, coupled with a fervent dislike of the 6+5 rule (plus a fondness for poking and prodding Blatter's FIFA), means I'm using these two stories to hit at a larger issue. Click to continue reading...

World soccer news

For week of February 14th

Cursed Ronaldo on the sidelines again
A well known scene: a tearful Ronaldo is being stretchered off with yet another injury. The partial tendon rupture in the right knee sustained in the league game against Livorno is threatening the Brazilian with another lengthy break. Click to continue reading...

Platini abandons cup winners plan

Domestic cup winners will not get to play in the Champions League after a proposal from Uefa chief Michel Platini was rejected, BBC Sport understands.

But the team finishing third in the Premier League will now go straight into the group stages and the fourth team will face two qualifying rounds.

Click to continue reading...

- With the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling that it was okay for Spanish side Granada 74 to buy into the second division by taking over Ciudad Murcia, FIFA head Sepp Blatter has someone how negatively associated the ruling with the 'U.S. franchise system'. I'm not sure what he's referring to and apparently neither does he, but it sounds quite hypocritical coming from a man who's all for foreign investment in football. Click to continue reading...

- Reportedly Brazilian winger Mancini wants out of Rome. Clashes in the past with Roma manager Spalletti and his recent break-up with his girlfriend appear to be two of the major factors. During the transfer window, the 27-year-old was courted by many top clubs, but wanted to stay in Rome mainly because of his girlfriend. He now says he wishes to be transferred to Lyon. Click to continue reading...

- Michel Platini has vowed not to meet directly with representatives of the G14 to discuss issues regarding the sport in Europe and added that he did recognize the association. Not smart, Michel. Being obstinate and unmoving in your position is only going to get a hostile reaction. Like or not, UEFA can not survive without the 18 clubs of the G14. Click to continue reading...

- British writer Will Hutton has written a great piece about the dire state of English football and how foreign ownership is endangering the sport there. Here's an excerpt:

"(Gordon) Brown will give Platini short shrift. When a draft EU report on football (commissioned by Britain!) dared to float similar ideas, a Brown spokesman said he would not allow England's national game to be run by Brussels, a line deemed to play well in the Eurosceptic tabloids. Click to continue reading...

- Pitches in Exeter and Mid Devon are sh*t. Literally. Matches held at Cullompton's CCA Fields have ended due to increasing amounts of dog doo on the playing field. Even in America, where soccer is scarcely respected, you'd be hard pressed to find fields covered in crap, dog or otherwise, but you'd figure in a country like England where the sport is king they would be more respectful of their fields. Click to continue reading...

Platini blames United and Liverpool for reform delay

Foreign owners such as those at Manchester United and Liverpool are "a serious threat" to European football, the Uefa president, Michel Platini, said yesterday, blaming them for obstructing his Champions League reform.

In a letter to all 27 European Union leaders – including Gordon Brown, Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Nicolas Sarkozy – Platini asks them to protect the sport from "a distortion".

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Ever since he won the election to become UEFA's new president Michel Platini has been making suggestions for 'improvements' to Europe's premier club competition, the Champions League.

He first mooted the idea of reducing the number of clubs from four to three for Europe's top leagues. This predictably went down like a lead balloon. That was Platini's first bad idea and not surprisingly the leading clubs including the G14 were quick to tell Platini that his idea stunk. Click to continue reading...

- Former Chelsea left-back, Graeme Le Saux, has revealed that David Beckham once called him a 'f**king poof' on the pitch. The 38-year-old former England international is not gay though, he's just 'different', so why is he coming out with this now? Oh, it's because he has a serialized autobiography set to be released soon. Well, that's one way to get some attention. Click to continue reading...