Euro 2012: Michel Platini Warns Any Player That Walks Off Pitch Over Racist Abuse Will Be Booked

Chris Wright

7th, June 2012

8 Comments

By Chris Wright

Platini: Seen here with ‘friend’

UEFA President Michel Platini was warned that any player who chooses to walk off the pitch in protest over racist abuse at Euro 2012 will be booked for their insolence – specifically singling out Mario Balotelli, who has vowed to walk and/or kill any troglodyte fans that see fit to fling their filth at him during the tournament.

Platini told BBC Sport:

“It’s a yellow card. It’s not a player – Mr Balotelli – who’s in charge of refereeing. It’s the referee who takes these decisions. Referees can finish the game. They have this power in case of racism.

“That is, I think, the best way to protect the game against racism. The referee has been given advice and he can stop the game if there are problems.

“We are shocked about racists, but we are trying to do something; we have to fight against that. I feel bad. Of course I feel bad because I am not a racist.”

Now, before the merde hits the fan, it may for all the world look like Platini is leaving leeway for a spot of good old-fashioned racism at Euro 2012, but he’s also said that matches can and will be suspended if the abuse is persistant.

Believe me, this definitely constitutes progress – after all, this is UEFA we’re talking about here; a group of heel-dragging atavists who’d describe tectonic plates as being ‘a bit nippy’.

Posted in Euro 2012, FAIL

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8 Comments

  1. Alex says:

    Progress maybe, but Platini is mistaking racism as being a purely football related issue, but it’s a human issue. If the player has an emotional response they can’t be punished in a footballing sense.

    This almost suggests that the threat of a yellow card can subdue peoples response to racist abuse.

    At least when Sepp made his handshake remarks, he recognised racism as an issue that transcends football.

  2. Bill says:

    Technically leaving the pitch is a yellow card offence.

  3. joe says:

    just another bigoted remark from people in power.

    I’m just waiting for Platini to confirm that players issued with a yellow card for walking off due to racism will be shown a banana instead.

  4. B says:

    Surely giving a yellow card to the player is also a refereeing decision?

    Fuck these bunch of clowns

  5. Toz says:

    I think the best of Platini comes from when France won the hosting rights for Euro 2016, when Turkey complained about France being the host, he didn’t deny taking any kickbacks or being biased.

    “When a Turk is EUFA President, Turkey can host the Euro”

    This man is an utter fucking tool, but he was always a massive bellend during his play days as well.

  6. usrick says:

    I’m certainly no fan of Platini or UEFA, but I am compelled to agree that it must be left to the referees, not the players, to respond to racism or any other inappropriate conduct on the pitch. If players are permitted to simply leave the field in the event of racism, some players would use that permission to leave the field when they look likely to lose and the outcome of games would be decided in some hearing room rather than on the pitch. Racism on the pitch should be punished, but it must be punished by officials, not by players – and certainly not by a loose canon like Mario Balotelli.

  7. Frost says:

    I’ve seen re-runs of matches played in which racism becomes ann issue. Eto’o with Barcelona, Samba in Russia, as well as Roberto Carlos. All the ref does is tell the player in question to chill out. I have never seen a match stopped. It’s money lost, so of course it won’t happen at the Euros. If you were in the position, you would not give two shits about being booked.

  8. tonys says:

    I hope all refs ignore this Platini-Schmatini.

Leave a Reply to tonys