Premier League to Platini: Keep Your Nose Out!

By: Daryl | November 28th, 2007

Keep your nose out Platini UEFA head honcho Michel Platini has spelled out some home truths for English football and why the England national team is currently useless, all without using the word Steve McClaren. Basically, he says, there are too many foreign players, too many foreign coaches and too many foreign owners. To sum up, he doesn’t like foreigners. But the Premier League do, because foreigners make the league marketable. Who’s going to increase your international TV revenues more: Cristiano Ronaldo or Kieran Richardson?

Here’s what Platini had to say:

If you do not have so many players what can you do? There are 95 registered Brazilian players in the Champions League, 94 French players and 45 English players. When you have twice as few players as other countries it is difficult. I like your football, I like the fans and the passion, but I don’t like the fact that it is too open (to foreigners).

It’s already an old argument. But what’s interesting is the Premier League’s response, which is to put their fingers in their ears and go “la la la” while thinking about all the lovely money that keeps rolling in.

Premier League ~~spin doctor~~ spokesman Dan Johnson had this response for the famous Frenchman:

He should really mind his own business. UEFA should look after the Champions League, UEFA Cup and the European Championships. We run the Premier League and we run it successfully, which is beneficial to the English game and that is our business and not Platini’s business.

…

I think the foreign influence on the Premier League has pushed it to the very highest level. We attract the best in the world and when English players are coming up against the best week in, week out we think it is good for them.

Seems Johnson is confusing what benefits the English game with what benefits the Premier League’s bank account. Also seems that he didn’t actually see England vs Croatia last week. Maybe he was busy. But much as well all love watching the Premier League (except for when Middlesbrough are playing) maybe it’s time the league stopped continually celebrating itself and faced up to some of the criticism.

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Category: English Premier League, World Football

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Shane

Foreign players influence the natives of the country to improve or step aside. I do think there should be a EPL rule having an English player somewhere in the squad just because you (England) don't want your national squad in years to come to be made up of mostly Championship players.
Chris

I don't remember the England team winning anything during the 70s, 80s or 90s when the league was almost 100% British players. If there was all this fantastic English talent out there that the big clubs weren't using surely teams like Derby and Wigan would be picking them up and getting in the Champions League.

The fact is you've got kids from Africa and South America coming into Premiership clubs with a lot more natural talent and desire than the English kids. Quotas won't improve the England team it'll only bring down the quality of the play in the league.