By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
March 22 – Michel Platini began his second term in charge of UEFA today by launching a savage attack on the re-emergence of football hooliganism, saying he was “sick” of what was going on some parts of the continent.
In a wide-ranging press conference following the UEFA Congress in Paris, Platini addressed a series of issues but reserved his strongest words to denounce fan violence.
Serbia and Croatia have already been publicly warned by UEFA to stop outbreaks of trouble within a year or risk being banned – and Platini said that applied to any other nation who’se fans cause mayhem.
“I’m going all over Europe and we’ll start with those two countries before continuing with others,” said Platini.
“I’m sick of the fact that people can’t go safely to stadiums.”
“The two countries have been given a one-year deadline.
“If a year from now they have not addressed the issue, we’ll strip them from international competition.
“This happened in the 1980s with our English friends.
“They were suspended for five years and did some excellent work afterwards.
“If that’s the only solution, we’ll apply zero tolerance.”
Platini would not be drawn on how UEFA’s 53 members would vote at the FIFA Presidential election on June 1.
Constantly pressed by journalists to state his position and say whether he favoured Sepp Blatter or Mohamed Bin Hammam, Platini did his best to stay neutral.
“I think it’s good for democracy that there are two candidates but this has been the UEFA Congress,” he said.
“I’m going to think about it and consult with my colleagues to see what position we’ll adopt.
“In 1998 I was only Michel Platini, only thinking of myself and now I’m President of UEFA.
“I can’t speak on my own personal behalf anymore.”
Asked whether he himself would like to step up to FIFA boss, as been widely reported, Platini replied: “Let’s meet again in three years and then I’ll tell you.”
Platini revealed UEFAwould be writing to all major clubs urging them to rein in their spending as their financial fair rules begin to bite.
“Financially speaking football is driving itself against a wall,” he said.
“If it doesn’t stop, some clubs are going to kill themselves.
“Two years ago, I took the bull by horns and we’re not going back on it.
“I know some people have their doubts but you’ll see.
“I’m going to write a letter to the European clubs saying ‘watch out, in 2014 we will take decisions.'”
He also returned, as he does at virtually every news conference these days, to the ongoing problems enveloping the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine.
“They are organising an event of this event for the first time and it’s been a bit painful,” said Platini.
“They have to put in place an entire infrastructure.
“You may be used to having three to six planes arriving in six hours, now you’re going to have 50 an hour.”
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