By Andrew Warshaw in Vienna
March 24 – UEFA president Michel Platini used his keynote address to his confederation’s congress today to highlight the ills afflicting European football, with the “insidious” scourge of nationalism-fuelled fan violence at the top of the list.
Thanking UEFA’s 54 nations for giving him the “captain’s armband” for another four years shortly before he was due to be re-elected unopposed, Platini painted a grim picture of the increase in extremism which he likened to his time as a player 30 years ago when he was a member of the Juventus team at the Heysel stadium disaster where 39 people were killed.
“Europe is seeing a rise in nationalism and extremism the like of which we have not witnessed for a very long time,” Platini said.
“This insidious trend can also be observed in our stadiums, as football is a reflection of society. Given its popularity, our sport is a barometer for the ills of our continent. And that barometer is pointing to some worrying developments.”
Not for the first time, Platini called for a European sports police force at government level to help UEFA “so that we can avoid reliving the dark days of a not-so-distant past – a past where hooligans and all manner of fanatics called the shots in certain European stadiums.
“In recent months, we have all been struck by certain images that I thought were a thing of the past. Some of us experienced that past at first hand.
“In my case, it was exactly 30 years ago … Nobody wants a repeat of such events. We need tougher stadium bans at European level and – I will say it again – the creation of a European sports police force.”
There were other battles too over which Uefa “cannot ever lower our guard,” said Platini. “I am thinking here of attempted political interference in association business, but also, of course, of our efforts to stamp out match-fixing, doping, violence, racism and other forms of discrimination.”
Platini, who in a recent interview on UEFA’s website insisted he was no despot but rather the model diplomat, took up that theme again and couldn’t resist a veiled dig at FIFA.
When he was re-elected four years ago, FIFA president Sepp Blatter spoke of the need to steer world football’s governing body into less rocky waters because of all the corruption scandals that had plagued the organisation.
Blatter, of course, is taking on three UEFA-backed challengers on May 29 as he bids for a fifth term of office and with the head of FIFA sitting in the front row of the audience, Platini’s address pointedly referred to UEFA’s own ship sailing in somewhat calmer waters than FIFA.
Platini has long opposed Blatter carrying on into a fifth term at the age of 79 and told delegates: “I regard myself as a simple team-mate – at most your captain. But not the captain of a ship that is being battered by a storm.”
Platini’s printed speech had included the words ”clinging to the helm for dear life” but he dropped that clause when he delivered the actual address, presumably having been advised it was too provocative.
On specific issues, Platini promised his revolutionary pan-European 2020 finals, which will take place in 13 countries and which has had its fair share of critics, will prevent host nations “having to outbid one another for white elephants.”
He also defended increasing Euro finalists to 24 teams starting next year in France. “It will be an exceptional festival of football and is already producing the most exciting, nail-biting qualifying competition yet.”
And he said the time had come to invite stakeholders such as leagues and clubs on to UEFA’s executive committee.
“Stakeholders must never be regarded as the enemy. I believe the time has come to grant all or at least some of them the status that they deserve. There was a time when nobody deigned to listen to them. It was a time of incomprehension, conflict and threats.
“I am now convinced that we have reached a time of maturity, wisdom, mutual trust and common sense. In other words, it is time to invite some or all of those branches of the family to join us at the top table – the balance in terms of representation being yet to be decided.”
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