Afternoon:
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Platini: English are losing their identity
Evening Standard 9 Oct 2008
Michel Platini has again warned that English clubs are in danger of losing their identity because of the influx of foreign owners.
“Do you want in Liverpool an Arab sheikh as president with one Brazilian coach and nine or 11 African players?” asked the UEFA president. “Where is Liverpool in that?”
Platini said that UEFA were looking at ways of introducing Europe-wide regulations. “You have to have identity, that is where football's popularity lies,” he said. “Can we do something against it? I will try.”
He also criticised English clubs for poaching underage players from abroad.
“One player aged 11 is coming from Marseille to Chelsea,” he added. “For the mother, you think that is good?”
