ZURICH, May 28 (Reuters) - 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 Web site (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.
'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.
