Platini backs Mascherano punishment

The Liverpool midfielder was sent off after confronting referee Steve Bennett in the Reds' 3-0 defeat at Manchester United - his dismissal coming just days after the outrage generated by Ashley Cole's behaviour towards Mike Riley, who did not red card the Chelsea left-back.

Platini said: "Mascherano got a yellow card for running at the referee, which is correct. He won't do it again now. What the referee did was good, it was the right thing to give him the second yellow card."

The FA has launched a campaign to promote respect to referees in the amateur game, and it appears that a more hard-line stance has now been adopted by professional officials.

Platini believes it is not before time and has predicted that when the initial controversy dies down, players will soon get used to keeping their mouths shut.

"The decision of the English FA to insist on showing yellow cards to any players arguing with referees in amateur games is a good one," Platini told the Mail on Sunday.

"It's something that should have been done 40 years ago. The referees have the backing of the rules to do this.

"We have to make sure the referees are respected. Of course the players don't like it at first but they won't do it a second time and if it means other players learn to restrain themselves, that's a good thing."

Platini revealed he is also working with the French government and European Commission in a bid to stop big clubs poaching promising youngsters under the age of 18.

"I have told the European Commission that we should ban the transfer of minors," he said. "The first football contract that a player signs should be for club that trains them. You don't train someone to be sold, you train a player to play."