Source: Daily_Mail
MARTIN SAMUEL: No wonder refs are under pressure when UEFA president Platini shows his true colours
When UEFA president Michel Platini told a newspaper he wanted to 'give' the Champions League to Juventus, Sportsmail's chief sports writer MARTIN SAMUEL considered the external pressures that referees face going into big games, writing in the build-up to Chelsea's match with Juventus in February. Though there was no injustice on that occassion, the performance of official Tom Henning Ovrebo during Chelsea's exit at the hands of Barcelona last night gives the issues renewed relevance...[LNB]Prince William is an Aston Villa supporter. Not a fanatic, mind you.Not the sort that can be found at the Holte End every other Saturdaysinging rude songs about Birmingham City, while Kate sits at homewishing they could just go off to Balmoral together and shoot stufflike a normal couple.[LNB]Suppose that was him, though. Suppose Prince William turned up forevery Villa game in a claret and blue shirt, sat very prominently inthe directors' box and went potty for his team. Suppose Villa got tothe FA Cup final and William, as president of the FA, arrived deckedout in full Villa regalia in anticipation of handing the trophy toGareth Barry. [LNB] Pointing the finger: Chelsea star Frank Lampard takes issue with referee Tom Henning Ovrebo[LNB]Do you think that his presence, as heir to the throne, might nothave the tiniest impact on the thought process of the match referee? [LNB]Officialsare figures of authority after all. They like rules, they appreciateorder; they would be the sort of people who respect hierarchicalstanding. Is it beyond the realms of reason that, even subconsciously,a referee might wish to make a decision that would please a future king?Now consider this. At Juventus, the king is Michel Platini. That is his nickname, Le Roi.[LNB] Platini is a king in another way, too, as president of UEFA, which makes him the most powerful man in the European game.Andon December 29, in an interview with La Stampa, a popular Italiannewspaper owned by the Fiat Group who control Juventus, this was whathe had to say about the destination of the most significant trophy inclub football: 'I would love to give the Champions League to Juventus.'[LNB] Aston Villa fan: Prince William[LNB]Then,referring to the match on October 21, 2008, when Juventus defeated RealMadrid 2-1, aided by an exceptional opening goal from Alessandro DelPiero, Platini added: 'I was in Turin when Del Piero stunned IkerCasillas and I rose to my feet, not only because I am Juventino, but Ithink it was the goal of 2008.'So the UEFA president, himself a great footballer, is inspired by great football. Nothing wrong with that.Butthe UEFA president is Juventino? The UEFA president would love to givethe Champions League to Juventus? Is that not the most inappropriatelanguage to be using for a man in Platini's position?It isUEFA's and Platini's good fortune that Jose Mourinho is not still themanager of Chelsea, the club that meet Juventus at Stamford Bridgetonight.[LNB] King of Europe: Michel Platini in action for Juventus[LNB]Mourinho,now with Inter Milan, is a man who sees conspiracy in every corner. Hewent into Inter's game with Manchester United last night complainingabout the leniency of distant disciplinary decisions affecting WayneRooney and Nemanja Vidic. Imagine what he would have made ofthe president of UEFA stating he wanted Chelsea's first knock-out roundopponents to progress. Imagine what he will make of it yet if Inter andJuventus meet at a later stage or, heaven forbid, at the final in Rome.Platini's mantra is fair play and, while many of his proposalsfor creating it are misguided, it is often suggested that he meanswell. He might have been playing to the home crowd in his La Stampainterview, and probably thought that to be depicted as a fan like anyother was an endearing ploy.[LNB] Chelsea 1 Barcelona 1: Blue murder at the Bridge as Iniesta strikes lateMARTIN SAMUEL: Handballs, fouls and a late swing of the boot do the job for BarcaCheated out: Foul-mouthed Drogba rages as ref denies furious Chelsea FOUR penaltiesGRAHAM POLL: The referee was wrong, but you can't behave like that...CHELSEA FC
