Friends in low places

They say you should be careful what you wish for, something which the FAI delegation in Nice last weekend must have had reason to ponder on the back of a testing Euro 2016 qualifying draw.

The previous day, we’d gathered for an audience with UEFA President Michel Platini, who was in feisty enough mood, even if he did decline to address one journo’s cheeky question about what the European governing body’s new ‘Week Of Football’ concept — which will see internationals hogging television space from Thursdays through to Tuesdays — might do to the divorce rate.

He had no such qualms, however, about labelling as “a stupid rule” FIFA’s so-called triple punishment of a sending off, penalty and suspension for a professional foul committed inside the box, a demonstrably brutal sanction which cost both Manchester City and Arsenal dearly in their recent Champions League outings.