Platini hails 'historic' sanctions

UEFA president Michel Platini insists the move to impose financial fair play sanctions against Manchester City is an historic moment for football - even if the club are furious at the punishment. City will have a heavy fine, a reduced Champions League squad and a limit on transfer spending for next season, while Paris St Germain have been given the same sanctions.Platini told Sky Sports News: "The people at Manchester City are not happy, the people of PSG, they are not happy, but I think Manchester United, Everton, they are happy. It's very subjective. We have to follow the regulations but I think it's an historical moment and a good moment for football."My wish is not to kill the clubs. We have fair play to help the clubs have better governance. I'm not the person who decides. but I think it would be a big mistake if we banned the clubs because financial fair play is to help them - not to kill them."Meanwhile, Platini said he was still considering whether to run for the FIFA presidency but that he expects Sepp Blatter to stand for another term.He added: "After the World Cup, it will be enough to think about that. I have all the World Cup, all the holidays, to think where I want to stay in the future."It's not clear in my mind. My problem is where I want to go. Where I want to be. If I want to be in FIFA, I will run for FIFA. If I want to be in UEFA, I want to be in UEFA. But I am very, very, very, very happy in UEFA."Platini and Blatter have been exchanging jibes over recent months but the UEFA president insisted their personal relationship still remained good.He said: "I have no problem with the man. I respect him. I have known him a long time."I supported him when he became president in 1998. But we have different matters. Football in Europe is not the football in the world. When he take a decision for the whole world, sometimes it's not good for the European football. We fight on ideas. That's okay. Where is the problem? We have to fight on ideas."

Source: PA