UEFA chief: Final will be 'beautiful'
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Platini confident German Chancellor Merkel would attend Euro 2012 final if Germany playing
- Merkel and other European leaders have threatened boycott over political situation in Ukraine
- Platini stands firm on UEFA's new Financial Fair Play Rules
- UEFA chief remains opposed to introduction of goal-line technology
Together with European
Union commissioners and several other Western politicians, Merkel has
threatened to boycott the month-long tournament, which Ukraine is
co-hosting with Poland next month, in sympathy with jailed Ukrainian
opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
"I'm not worried about
the situation," Platini told CNN in an exclusive interview ahead of
Saturday's Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Chelsea in
the German city.
"The politicians they are
in their role and the Ukrainians they are in their role. I'm in my role
and that is not to do politics, it's not to do religion and not to
interfere in everything.
"That means they can say
what they want -- we continue to organize the Euro. If Germany is in
final of the Euro I would be sure that Madame Merkel would come to the
final."
Such a scenario -- and it
is very possible given Germany are one of the tournament favorites --
would represent something of a u-turn for Merkel given earlier this
month she told the Bundestag, the lower house of the German Parliament,
that in Ukraine and Belarus "people are still suffering under
dictatorship and repression."
Champions League means big money
Next
month sees the start of football's European Championships, arguably the
toughest competition in world football. Ukraine will co-host the event
with Poland, but it has been overshadowed by the treatment of former
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been in prison since last
October on charges of abuse of power.
It is
alleged by Tymoshenko's supporters that charges against the former prime
minister, who came to the fore during the Orange Revolution that swept
Ukraine in 2004 and 2005, are politically motivated, trumped up by
current president Viktor Yanukovych. They also allege that Tymoshenko
was beaten while in prison.
It is
alleged by Tymoshenko's supporters that charges against the former prime
minister, who came to the fore during the Orange Revolution that swept
Ukraine in 2004 and 2005, are politically motivated, trumped up by
current president Viktor Yanukovych. They also allege that Tymoshenko
was beaten while in prison.
CNN
spoke to Tymoshenko's daughter Eugenia about her mother's detention and
alleged beating. The pictures caused a political firestorm, with many
European leaders now boycotting the tournament.
CNN
spoke to Tymoshenko's daughter Eugenia about her mother's detention and
alleged beating. The pictures caused a political firestorm, with many
European leaders now boycotting the tournament.
Dozens
of European political figures have boycotted the event in protest at
Tymoshenko's treatment, including the EU president and head of the EU
commission Jose Manuel Barroso. Barroso is pictured here receiving an
official Euro 2012 match ball from President Yanukovych just 18 months
ago.
Dozens
of European political figures have boycotted the event in protest at
Tymoshenko's treatment, including the EU president and head of the EU
commission Jose Manuel Barroso. Barroso is pictured here receiving an
official Euro 2012 match ball from President Yanukovych just 18 months
ago.
The
controversy is a far cry from the euphoria that followed the Orange
Revolution in 2004 and 2005. The uprising was sparked when Viktor
Yushchenko lost the presidential election to the then prime minister
Viktor Yanukovych after alleged voter fraud.
The
controversy is a far cry from the euphoria that followed the Orange
Revolution in 2004 and 2005. The uprising was sparked when Viktor
Yushchenko lost the presidential election to the then prime minister
Viktor Yanukovych after alleged voter fraud.
Yushchenko
was taken seriously ill during the uprising. His supporters alleged
that he was deliberately poisoned to prevent him winning the election.
But he survived and, after the allegations of vote fraud had provoked
massive street protests, a new round of voting took place which
Yushchenko won.
Yushchenko
was taken seriously ill during the uprising. His supporters alleged
that he was deliberately poisoned to prevent him winning the election.
But he survived and, after the allegations of vote fraud had provoked
massive street protests, a new round of voting took place which
Yushchenko won.
Although
Yushchenko had won the election it was the blonde-haired figure of
Tymoshenko that captured the public's attention. She was appointed prime
minister in the new government.
Although
Yushchenko had won the election it was the blonde-haired figure of
Tymoshenko that captured the public's attention. She was appointed prime
minister in the new government.
Here
Tymoshenko meets with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Although it was
all smiles on the international stage, domestically Tymoshenko and
President Yushchenko were locked in a bitter power struggle.
Here
Tymoshenko meets with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Although it was
all smiles on the international stage, domestically Tymoshenko and
President Yushchenko were locked in a bitter power struggle.
The
Ukrainian people had had enough of the infighting, and made a decisive
decision in the 2010 presidential elections. Yushchenko received just 5%
of the vote while Tymoshenko narrowly lost to Yanukovych, who had lost
the 2004 election. This time international observers judged the election
to be free and fair.
The
Ukrainian people had had enough of the infighting, and made a decisive
decision in the 2010 presidential elections. Yushchenko received just 5%
of the vote while Tymoshenko narrowly lost to Yanukovych, who had lost
the 2004 election. This time international observers judged the election
to be free and fair.
Preparations
for Euro 2012 did not run smoothly. The new president promised to allay
UEFA's concerns over the slow building work. Here Ukrainian riot police
practice ahead of the arrival of tens of thousands of football fans
from across Europe. But there are still some worries. Amnesty
International issued a warning to fans that Ukraine's police exhibited
"criminal" behavior.
Preparations
for Euro 2012 did not run smoothly. The new president promised to allay
UEFA's concerns over the slow building work. Here Ukrainian riot police
practice ahead of the arrival of tens of thousands of football fans
from across Europe. But there are still some worries. Amnesty
International issued a warning to fans that Ukraine's police exhibited
"criminal" behavior.
The
preparations were completed and Ukraine now awaits the biggest sporting
event to ever take place in the country's history. But how many European
heads of state will actually turn up for the final at the $500 million
Olympic Stadium in the capital Kiev on July 1?
The
preparations were completed and Ukraine now awaits the biggest sporting
event to ever take place in the country's history. But how many European
heads of state will actually turn up for the final at the $500 million
Olympic Stadium in the capital Kiev on July 1?
That
will largely depend on the fate of Tymoshenko, pictured here kissing her
daughter Eugenia goodbye after being convicted last year. Germany's
Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of several politicians watching and
waiting before making a decision.
That
will largely depend on the fate of Tymoshenko, pictured here kissing her
daughter Eugenia goodbye after being convicted last year. Germany's
Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of several politicians watching and
waiting before making a decision.
Europe's Ukrainian dilemma
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From Orange Revolution to Euro 2012
Road to the Champions League final
No regrets
While admitting UEFA had
taken a risk in giving Euro 2012 to Poland and Ukraine, Platini insisted
he had no regrets about the European governing body's decision to award
the tournament to the two Eastern European neighbors.
"Four years ago when all
the slides were red, red, red, red, red -- stadium, roads, accommodation
was red, red, red, red it was not easy. OK we took the risk but I say
it was a good risk."
As well as dealing with
the political fall-out from Ukraine's strained relationship with the
West, UEFA is implementing a set of financial regulations -- Financial
Fair Play (FFP) - that are designed to compel most teams to live within
their means.
The FFP rules apply now but will come fully into force in 2014.
But this new stringent
financial regime has raised the question as to whether UEFA would
prevent a big-spending team like Manchester City, which has incurred
large debts after spending up to $1.5B on winning the English Premier
League (EPL) for the first time this season, from competing in the
Champions League.
"I'm happy for them,"
said Platini, as he congratulated City on their title success. "But they
will know what we will do. And if they are in the Financial Fair Play
they will play our competition but we will look at them like we will
look at everyone else.
If you say OK to goal-line technology, then it is offside technology, then penalty area technology, and we stop the football
Michel Platini
Michel Platini
"We prepare everything
with the clubs -- we gave them four years to prepare something for the
future," added Platini. "We will never go back."
Technology opposed
The former Nancy and
Juventus midfielder and French captain, who led France when they won the
European Championships in 1984, remains equally resolute in his
opposition to FIFA's likely introduction of goal-line technology in the
summer.
The EPL wants to
introduce goal-line technology as early as next season if football's
rule-makers -- The International Football Association Board (IFAB) --
sanction its use in July.
"I'm against the
technology," said Platini. "If you say OK to goal-line technology, then
it is offside technology, then penalty area technology, and we stop the
football. I want human people -- it's easy. I understand the fans
because they want justice but with an additional referee we have the
same justice."
FIFA president Sepp
Blatter has indicated he is in favor of goal-line technology and would
like to see it in place for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but Platini
has not given up all hope that the Swiss may still change his mind.
"I am football, he is
political." said Platini. "He changes his mind. He said last year in the
IFAB never technology, never. This year he changed, he's says let's go
technology. I hope next year he will say no technology."
I didn't see Barcelona be better than Chelsea and I didn't see Real Madrid be better than Bayern in these games
Michel Platini
Michel Platini
Looking ahead to
Saturday's showpiece event between Chelsea and Bayern, Platini insisted
that that best two teams had reached the final, despite the widely held
view that their respective semifinal opponents -- Barcelona and Real
Madrid -- are Europe's strongest teams.
"Could be, but the
result is there -- it's Bayern Munich against Chelsea. I didn't see
Barcelona be better than Chelsea and I didn't see Real Madrid be better
than Bayern in these games," said the UEFA president.
Surprising season
"Everything was
surprising -- the non-qualification of some of the English teams to the
second round, the fact that Chelsea and Bayern were not favorites for
the semifinals and they beat Barcelona and Real Madrid. It has been
incredible year for the legend of the cup."
Next season will be the 20th anniversary of the Champions League, which was formerly known as the European Cup.
Asked to single out his favorite finals, Platini picked Liverpool's win over AC Milan 2005 and Barcelona's triumph in 2011.
"Istanbul, was an
incredible game for Liverpool against Milan and last year's final
between Barcelona and Manchester United was a great, great game with a
great atmosphere at the stadium."
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