Platini accuses U.S. club owners of being in for money only

Count UEFA president Michel Platini as among those not in favour of U.S. ownership of Premier League clubs.

Platini accused owners of English Manchester United and Liverpool as being motivated only by money, and not caring for the sport. One of the issues Platini brought up is that the Glazers of Manchester United and Tom Hicks and George Gillett have bypassed investing in the MLS for the Premier League.

Platini fears that rampant commercialism will hit the sport in that matches will be halted for television breaks as is the case with U.S.-style football. However, U.S. football does not have companies advertising on jerseys as is the case with the Premier League and all major clubs.

"I hope that Mr Glazer and the president of Liverpool will shortly philosophise and I will have to apologise to them," Platini said on Newsnight. "But at the moment I am not clear that this is the case."

Platini's rant was not directed solely at U.S. investors, as he decried foreign managers and players, plying their trades overseas.

"The coaches aren't English, the players aren't English, I don't know why this is the case," said Platini, who also said he would stick fast with his plan of having domestic cup winner qualify for the Champions League.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.