http://www.mail.com/int/people/1360174-michel-platini.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.28/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/int/people/1360174-michel-platini.html http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2087604-blatter-rational-to-play-wcup-qatar-summer.html LONDON (AP) — Playing the 2022 World Cup in the searing summer heat of Qatar is "not rational and reasonable," FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in a newspaper interview. Despite health concerns included in an official report before the vote, the FIFA executive committee opted for the tiny emirate's bid in 2010. Blatter has repeatedly refused to say if he ... Wed, 15 May 2013 17:25:46 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2087604-blatter-rational-to-play-wcup-qatar-summer.html 2013-05-15T17:25:46Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2070466-alex-ferguson-blows-final-whistle-man-u-career.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — During more than a quarter of a century in charge of Manchester United, Alex Ferguson has always found the way to win — and win again. Scrappy, abrasive and always up for a fight, Ferguson turned the club into a global power and established himself as the most successful manager in British football history. And now, the 71-year-... Wed, 08 May 2013 17:36:18 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2070466-alex-ferguson-blows-final-whistle-man-u-career.html 2013-05-08T17:36:18Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2070910-reaction-to-alex-fergusons-retirement.html Reaction to Alex Ferguson's decision to retire as manager of Manchester United, which was announced Wednesday: "His achievements in the game place him without doubt as one of the 'greats' ... Will his longevity at the top ever be repeated?" — FIFA President Sepp Blatter. "No one has made as great a... Wed, 08 May 2013 15:53:17 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2070910-reaction-to-alex-fergusons-retirement.html 2013-05-08T15:53:17Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2060854-france-want-9-11-stadiums-euro-2016.html LILLE, France (AP) — France plans on using nine to 11 stadiums for the 2016 European Championship but only the Stade de France and Lille's new 50,000-capacity stadium are fully ready. Nice's new stadium was expected next year; Saint-Etienne and Marseille were halfway through renovations; Bordeaux was just beginning its renovation, while Lyon's new 58,000-... Fri, 03 May 2013 14:06:15 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2060854-france-want-9-11-stadiums-euro-2016.html 2013-05-03T14:06:15Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2060710-platini-all-german-final-proof-dominance.html LILLE, France (AP) — UEFA president Michel Platini is distinctly underwhelmed by Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund reaching the Champions League final and does not see it as a sign of a power shift toward Germany in European football. Bayern dismantled Barcelona 7-0 for the biggest aggregate winning margin in a Champions League semifinal, and Dortmund t... Fri, 03 May 2013 13:33:55 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2060710-platini-all-german-final-proof-dominance.html 2013-05-03T13:33:55Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2060634-blatter-urges-asia-to-seek-world-cup-places.html KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — FIFA President Sepp Blatter urged Asian football authorities on Friday to push for more World Cup berths at the expense of Europe and South America, an issue which could help his own re-election prospects. Blatter said "we have to have a better balance" because the two most powerful continents could provide 19 of the 32 teams... Fri, 03 May 2013 11:14:24 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2060634-blatter-urges-asia-to-seek-world-cup-places.html 2013-05-03T11:14:24Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2051490-blatter-secure-captain-fifas-ship.html GENEVA (AP) — Borrowing a favorite Sepp Blatter phrase, he seems a happy FIFA president. Blatter will attend the Asian Football Confederation elections this week in Malaysia and his endorsement is eagerly sought by candidates to replace deposed former rival Mohamed bin Hammam as president and FIFA executive committee member. Counting d... Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:46:23 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2051490-blatter-secure-captain-fifas-ship.html 2013-04-29T17:46:23Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2031422-terry-reignites-racism-row-fallout-uefa-event.html LONDON (AP) — The bitter fallout from English football's high-profile racism case resurfaced Friday in front of UEFA President Michel Platini as John Terry refused to shake hands with the man who stripped him of the England captaincy. The snub came at an event in London where European champion Chelsea was handing back the Champions League trophy ahead of ... Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:52:03 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2031422-terry-reignites-racism-row-fallout-uefa-event.html 2013-04-19T16:52:03Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2025786-sp-warns-russia-high-costs-2018-world-cup.html MOSCOW (AP) — Many of the Russian cities hosting the 2018 World Cup will have trouble finding the money to build soccer stadiums and improve transit links and other infrastructure, the Standard & Poor's ratings agency has warned. Seven of the 11 Russian host cities will have to borrow money or receive much more support from the federal government than is ... Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:38:40 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2025786-sp-warns-russia-high-costs-2018-world-cup.html 2013-04-17T18:38:40Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2012914-epl-to-use-hawk-eye-spain-germany-stall-tech.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The English Premier League on Thursday became the first national competition in world football to approve the use of goal-line technology, with Hawk-Eye being deployed at stadiums from next season. The Spanish and German leagues, however, said they would hold off from giving referees high-tech aids for at least two years, while ... Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:41:10 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2012914-epl-to-use-hawk-eye-spain-germany-stall-tech.html 2013-04-11T22:41:10Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2005108-fifa-fines-warns-ibrahimovic-agent-insults.html ZURICH (AP) — FIFA says it has fined and warned Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent for using "offensive language" after he compared the governing body to a mafia organization and called Sepp Blatter a "demented dictator." FIFA ordered Mino Raiola to pay 5,000 Swiss francs ($5,350), plus 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,070) toward the costs of disciplinary proceedings. The... Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:32:44 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2005108-fifa-fines-warns-ibrahimovic-agent-insults.html 2013-04-08T11:32:44Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1984988-platini-cool-russia-ukraine-league-plan.html SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — UEFA President Michel Platini has declined to back a Russian plan for combining its national league with that of neighboring Ukraine. Platini says he's "not very much in favor" of an idea which has been pushed by Russian state-run gas supplier Gazprom, a sponsor of Zenit St. Petersburg and the Champions League. UEFA has invited cons... Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:20:40 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1984988-platini-cool-russia-ukraine-league-plan.html 2013-03-28T18:20:40Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1984194-uefa-urges-players-to-speak-racism.html SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — UEFA wants players to speak out against their own teammates and fans following a series of racist incidents at football matches. The executive committee of European football's ruling body also called for tougher sanctions on Thursday, hours before a European fans' monitoring group, Fare, said it sent FIFA reports of "racist or xenop... Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:04:26 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1984194-uefa-urges-players-to-speak-racism.html 2013-03-28T18:04:26Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1967852-platini-answers-blatter-barb-euro-2020-plan.html NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Michel Platini has answered FIFA President Sepp Blatter's barbs over UEFA's plan to host the 2020 European Championship in 13 countries. Blatter used an interview with German sports magazine Kicker last week to suggest the multinational project "lacks soul and heart" — seeming to be sparring ahead of the 2015 FIFA presidential ele... Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:41:58 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1967852-platini-answers-blatter-barb-euro-2020-plan.html 2013-03-20T18:41:58Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1965238-webb-urges-fifa-to-concacaf-influence.html ZURICH (AP) — The CONCACAF region that includes the United States wants a bigger say in the decision-making at the heart of FIFA. Jeffrey Webb, president of football's ruling body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, told The Associated Press on Tuesday he will urge his FIFA executive committee colleagues this week to look at how their influen... Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:47:41 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1965238-webb-urges-fifa-to-concacaf-influence.html 2013-03-19T21:47:41Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1962260-decision-time-looms-politics-fifa-reform.html GENEVA (AP) — In a conclave at FIFA headquarters this week, a group of football leaders will work secretively over two days in their first session of 2013. Presided over by President Sepp Blatter, the FIFA Executive Committee — with 23 men and one woman — is a group governing a sport followed in many countries with near-religious fervor. Known in FIFA cir... Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:45:12 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1962260-decision-time-looms-politics-fifa-reform.html 2013-03-18T13:45:12Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1957828-fifa-medical-chief-summer-2022-world-cup.html KNOKKE, Belgium (AP) — FIFA's medical chief is against holding the 2022 World Cup in the summer heat of the desert nation Qatar. Michel D'Hooghe added a strong voice on Friday to the debate about whether Qatar should stick to the traditional slot of June for a World Cup or shifted to a time of the year when the climate is more temperate. ... Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:37:12 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1957828-fifa-medical-chief-summer-2022-world-cup.html 2013-03-15T18:37:12Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1954224-blatter-critical-platinis-euro-2020-plans.html FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — FIFA President Sepp Blatter has criticized plans for the 2020 European Championship to be played in 13 countries, saying the tournament will lack "heart and soul." The tournament is the brainchild of Michel Platini, the UEFA president who could be Blatter's rival for FIFA presidency in 2015. Rather than staging the championship i... Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:45:23 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1954224-blatter-critical-platinis-euro-2020-plans.html 2013-03-14T12:45:23Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1946900-croatia-rejects-uefa-hooliganism-warning.html ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia has rejected a warning from UEFA that fan violence and racism could lead to its teams being banned from international competitions. Croatia said the same problems are rife throughout Europe. Its sports ministers and police said Monday that the governing body should concentrate more on its own corruption and betting scandals ... Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:07:35 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1946900-croatia-rejects-uefa-hooliganism-warning.html 2013-03-11T20:07:35Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1946236-lazio-juventus-sanctioned-fan-racism.html MILAN (AP) — Lazio has lost its appeal to UEFA over fan racism sanctions and was hit with another fine Monday by the Italian league for supporters targeting the European federation's president Michel Platini with an offensive banner. UEFA rejected Lazio's appeal over its two-match home supporter ban and €40,000 ($52,000) fine handed out last month, which ... Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:15:07 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1946236-lazio-juventus-sanctioned-fan-racism.html 2013-03-11T16:15:07Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1945560-fifa-hopeful-urges-video-replay-use-referees.html GENEVA (AP) — Referees should be allowed to consult video replays and football needs to accept the "inevitable" use of technology, according to FIFA presidential hopeful Jerome Champagne. Champagne suggests in a document sent to FIFA member nations on Monday that video replays could help referees judge situations such as offside on disputed goals, red car... Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:12:46 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1945560-fifa-hopeful-urges-video-replay-use-referees.html 2013-03-11T11:12:46Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1944540-juventus-wins-1-0-extends-lead-to-9-points.html ROME (AP) — Juventus extended its lead atop Serie A to a commanding nine points Sunday with a stoppage-time 1-0 win over visiting Catania, while second-place Napoli lost 2-0 at Chievo Verona. Emanuele Giaccherini scored the winner for Juventus in the first minute of added time, finding the target from the edge of the box following a cross from Paul Pogba,... Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:46:02 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1944540-juventus-wins-1-0-extends-lead-to-9-points.html 2013-03-10T21:46:02Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1944972-lazio-fans-target-platini-with-offensive-banner.html ROME (AP) — Lazio supporters have targeted UEFA President Michel Platini with an offensive banner after the team was ordered to play its next two European home matches in an empty stadium due to persistent fan racism. At the start of Lazio's match with Fiorentina on Sunday, hard-core "ultra" fans held aloft a banner that read, "Heysel 29/05/85. You had th... Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:42:55 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1944972-lazio-fans-target-platini-with-offensive-banner.html 2013-03-10T20:42:55Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1927044-fifa-open-to-qatar-2022-world-cup-moving-to-winter.html EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — FIFA conceded for the first time Saturday that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar could be moved to winter if medical evidence showed that playing in the intense summer heat would be dangerous. FIFA has previously insisted that Qatar would have to make the request to move the tournament, while the tiny emirate has placed responsibility... Sat, 02 Mar 2013 17:32:36 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1927044-fifa-open-to-qatar-2022-world-cup-moving-to-winter.html 2013-03-02T17:32:36Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1927010-platini-champions-league-destroyed-competitions.html BERLIN (AP) — UEFA President Michel Platini says the Champions League has "killed off, destroyed" other European competitions. Platini tells German daily Bild that Europe's second club competition, the Europa League, has been damaged by the dominance of the Champions League. The Frenchman says UEFA wants to "enhance the Europa League again." ... Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:10:48 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1927010-platini-champions-league-destroyed-competitions.html 2013-03-02T16:10:48Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1919012-barcelona-appeals-fifa-ruling-playing-15yo.html MADRID (AP) — Barcelona is appealing a FIFA directive not to select a French youngster to play in one of its youth teams. According to Barcelona, FIFA sent a communication instructing it not to select 15-year-old Theo Chendri to play in its Youth A squad. FIFA said on Wednesday it had been contacted by Spain's federation about "the international transfer ... Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:55:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1919012-barcelona-appeals-fifa-ruling-playing-15yo.html 2013-02-27T16:55:06Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1906534-zenit-resist-liverpool-fightback-europa-league.html GENEVA (AP) — Zenit St. Petersburg resisted a Liverpool fightback inspired by Luis Suarez to reach the Europa League last 16 on the away-goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate score on Thursday. Leading 2-0 from the first leg, Zenit was cruising when Hulk scored in the 19th minute goal, but Suarez struck twice with stunning free kicks either side of Joe Allen's... Thu, 21 Feb 2013 23:33:11 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1906534-zenit-resist-liverpool-fightback-europa-league.html 2013-02-21T23:33:11Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1895148-serbia-expulsion-2015-u21-euros-avoided.html NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Serbia has survived the threat of expulsion from the 2015 European Under-21 Championship by UEFA over racist abuse directed by fans at England players. UEFA's appeals panel declined the option Friday, instead ordering Serbia to play two U21 qualifiers in an empty stadium. The judgment is likely to fuel debate on how football autho... Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:03:53 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1895148-serbia-expulsion-2015-u21-euros-avoided.html 2013-02-15T21:03:53Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1894516-fifa-to-propose-tougher-sanctions-racist-abuse.html ZURICH (AP) — FIFA aims to approve tougher sanctions for racist abuse at football matches when its 209 member nations meet in May. FIFA President Sepp Blatter led a meeting Friday of its Strategic Committee, which included UEFA President Michel Platini and discussed combatting racism and match-fixing. Blatter has previously said that points deductions and... Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:46:04 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1894516-fifa-to-propose-tougher-sanctions-racist-abuse.html 2013-02-15T14:46:04Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1876872-anti-corruption-advisers-challenge-fifa-to-change.html GENEVA (AP) — FIFA's anti-corruption advisers urged President Sepp Blatter's executive committee on Friday to "demonstrate leadership" and not undermine efforts to reform football's world governing body. The advisory panel published a slate of "fundamental" modernizing steps ahead of key meetings to shape what FIFA's 209 member countries can vote for at t... Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:55:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1876872-anti-corruption-advisers-challenge-fifa-to-change.html 2013-02-08T15:55:00Z