Platini completes European trip

UEFA President Michel Platini completed this week's trip to four European nations with a visit to the Czech Republic on Friday for talks with football and government officials. Mr Platini had previously travelled to Albania, Bulgaria and Romania to discuss football development in the three countries.

Latest leg
The concluding leg of Mr Platini's journey began with a meeting with the Czech Republic's vice-prime minister for European affairs Alexandr Vondra, with the discussions focusing on the autonomy of sport and its federations and the forthcoming Czech presidency of the European Union. "Our aim is to have the specific nature of sport defined [in EU legislation], and also to protect smaller countries and young players," said the UEFA President, highlighting concerns about youngsters leaving to play football in another country at an early age. "They are people, not articles," added Mr Platini.

Not only business
Mr Vondra agreed with those concerns. "I always admired him as a player, and I can say the same about his football reforms," he said. "I think that football is not just about business, but is also a source of energy, motivation and joy for young people."

Right path
Mr Platini also held talks with the chairman of the lower house of the Czech parliament Miloslav Vlček, as well as with senior officials from the Football Association of the Czech Republic. "I am here to talk about football issues, but there is little to dispute because Czech football is on the right path, and there are no problems between the Czech association and UEFA," said Mr Platini. Talks also dealt with UEFA financial help towards the building of new headquarters for the association, which will be constructed in 2010.

Meeting players
The UEFA President was delighted to meet several former Czech footballers at a dinner organised by the Czech FA. These included Karol Dobiaš, a European champion with Czechoslovakia in 1976, and a member of the team against which Mr Platini made his debut for France in a 2-2 friendly draw in Paris that March; Karel Poborský, who made a record 118 appearances for his country; Miroslav Kadlec, the captain of the team – also including Poborský – which reached the final of EURO '96™; and national-team coach Petr Rada.