UEFA president calls for elitist G-14 to disband
ZURICH: UEFA President Michel Platini on Monday called for the G-14 to disband and drop its lawsuits claiming compensation for players injured on international duty.
Speaking at UEFA's 10th extraordinary Congress in Zurich, he described the G14, which represents 18 of Europe's most powerful clubs, as elitist and said he wanted all grievances sorted out through a new Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC).
"I call officially on the major and important clubs in European football to disband their elitist grouping, to withdraw the various lawsuits that they have brought before the courts...", he said in his closing speech to UEFA delegates.
He was also quoted on the UEFA website (www.uefa.com) as asking the G-14 to "join together with all the other clubs to engage in a fruitful, productive and democratic dialogue with the other members of the European football family".
Addressing delegates from UEFA's 53 member associations, Platini called for an end to the quarrels and discord that have affected the European game in recent years.
Great experience
"Presidents and heads of the major clubs, let us profit from your great experience and your ideas. Tell us about your convictions. UEFA's door is wide open -- join us, and I promise you that you will not be disappointed," added the Frenchman.
"I'm convinced that you will hear this appeal, because it is being made in the sense of history, and with progress at the service of football in mind."
Set up in 2000 to give its clubs a greater say in how the game is run, the G-14 admitted four more members in 2002 and said this month it hoped to double in size by the end of the year and open its doors to clubs across the continent.
It has come into conflict with FIFA for backing Belgian club Charleroi in a landmark case seeking compensation for a player injured while representing his country. The case was referred to Europe's highest court earlier this month.
A similar case involving Olympique Lyon is pending.
However, Platini believes European soccer's governing body UEFA can solve the game's problems after its national football associations on Monday approved the creation of the PFSC.
It includes UEFA's vice presidents plus representatives of clubs, leagues and players. Platini described it as "a crucial step with an eye to gathering together all football families.
"...thanks to the Professional Football Strategy Council, we can put an end to our quarrels, we can stop seeing each other before the courts, we can stop making a spectacle of ourselves in front of the whole of Europe," he added.
Agencies
(China Daily 05/30/2007 page23)
