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World Cup legend Michel Platini last night warned English football to clean up its "ridiculous" image - or risk being booted out of the Champions League.
Uefa president Platini rounded on Manchester City's £150million pursuit of AC Milan superstar Kaka as a prime example of Premier League clubs "cheating" after being bankrolled by wealthy owners.
Platini intends to implement a crackdown at UEFA's strategy meeting next month when they will try to push through more stringent rules on licences which clubs must have to play in European competitions.
Former Juventus superstar Platini wants clubs to be more self-sufficient, wants a limit on transfer budgets and aims to stop teams like City being able to spend £150m on Kaka (right), after branding it "socially wrong".
Platini said: "If I say I am angry about it then everyone will say: 'He's jealous because he never earned that in his career'. But it's ridiculous. I don't need to say more. How one guy can cost £150m is ridiculous. From a football point of view, social point of view and every point of view.
"If you want to spend £150m on a player it is possible. But it's why we have to do something.
I have a philosophy and we share that philosophy with 99 per cent of people in the game in Europe.
"It's not good for the popularity of football. We have to permit everybody to play, but football is a game and not a product.
"Many, many, many clubs supportmeon this. It will take time to do that and if we decide to do something it will take three or four years because we will have to respect the contracts of the players."
Platini wants the licence system, already in place to ensure clubs' ownerships, finances and stadia are in order, to be used to exclude clubs if they are hundreds of millions of pounds in debt.
The UEFA chief insists that, despite a string of outspoken attacks on the Premier League, he is not anti-English football but just wants a "more level playing field".
But Platini said he may push for strict spending limits to be implemented at next month's strategy meeting as he also ridiculed the Premier League's plan for a 39th game.
"I don't have a problem with the English game," said Platini. "I have a problem with the 39th game. I think it's stupid, just like Kaka costing £150m.
does he ever take a day off from bashing the prem ? muppet
Uefa president Platini rounded on Manchester City's £150million pursuit of AC Milan superstar Kaka as a prime example of Premier League clubs "cheating" after being bankrolled by wealthy owners.
Platini intends to implement a crackdown at UEFA's strategy meeting next month when they will try to push through more stringent rules on licences which clubs must have to play in European competitions.
Former Juventus superstar Platini wants clubs to be more self-sufficient, wants a limit on transfer budgets and aims to stop teams like City being able to spend £150m on Kaka (right), after branding it "socially wrong".
Platini said: "If I say I am angry about it then everyone will say: 'He's jealous because he never earned that in his career'. But it's ridiculous. I don't need to say more. How one guy can cost £150m is ridiculous. From a football point of view, social point of view and every point of view.
"If you want to spend £150m on a player it is possible. But it's why we have to do something.
I have a philosophy and we share that philosophy with 99 per cent of people in the game in Europe.
"It's not good for the popularity of football. We have to permit everybody to play, but football is a game and not a product.
"Many, many, many clubs supportmeon this. It will take time to do that and if we decide to do something it will take three or four years because we will have to respect the contracts of the players."
Platini wants the licence system, already in place to ensure clubs' ownerships, finances and stadia are in order, to be used to exclude clubs if they are hundreds of millions of pounds in debt.
The UEFA chief insists that, despite a string of outspoken attacks on the Premier League, he is not anti-English football but just wants a "more level playing field".
But Platini said he may push for strict spending limits to be implemented at next month's strategy meeting as he also ridiculed the Premier League's plan for a 39th game.
"I don't have a problem with the English game," said Platini. "I have a problem with the 39th game. I think it's stupid, just like Kaka costing £150m.
does he ever take a day off from bashing the prem ? muppet