Friends in low places
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.
