Platini: Proposals are a joke

Platini: Proposals are a joke

UEFA president Michel Platini has described Premier League proposals to play an additional round of English top-flight matches overseas as "comical".

League chiefs have floated the idea of the 20 top-flight clubs playing a 39th fixture in overseas cities from January 2011 onwards to capitalise on the Premier League’s international popularity.

"It’s a strange and comical idea," the former France and Juventus playmaker told the Daily Telegraph. "I was laughing. I laughed because it will never be received by FIFA, by the fans and by the national associations. It’s a nonsense idea."

Platini, who has in the past criticised the league for what he sees as an over-reliance on imported foreign talent extended his attack to include the increasing number of foreign owners and the fact that the English national team are coached by Italian Fabio Capello.

"It’s ironic," he added.

"Soon you will have in England no English presidents, you already have no English coach, you have no English players and maybe now you will have no clubs playing in England. It’s a joke."

Platini revealed he had spoken to his FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter on the issue and added: "We share the same idea that it’s the responsibility of national associations (to allow English teams to play competitively in their countries), and I am sure they will never accept it because.....continued below

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