Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 10y

UEFA president Michel Platini worried for Italian football

UEFA president Michel Platini has expressed his concern at the state of Italian football, saying he expects a French club to win the Champions League before an Italian side does.

Speaking from an anti-racism forum being held in Rome, former Juventus player Platini told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he was shocked by the national team's early exit from the World Cup and the subsequent exits of coach Cesare Prandelli and Italian FA president Giancarlo Abete.

"What was sensational was the elimination at the World Cup after the game against the English. I thought Italy were going to do like in 2012," Platini said, referring to Italy's appearance in the final of the European Championship. "I certainly didn't expect all these resignations. After two games lost, your football was in disarray."

The state of the stadiums and the matchday experience in Italy have been pinpointed as one of the causes of the game's decline in the country.

"We've been saying the same thing for years here [at UEFA]," the Frenchman said. "If you want to have clubs competing with the very best in Europe then the stadium is fundamental. Juve, who have their own ground, are nevertheless still a long way behind Bayern and Real."

Inter Milan were the last Italian side to lift the Champions League and, asked when he thinks a Serie A side might triumph in Europe again, he replied: "It's the same question I've been asking myself about French clubs, and I think you are even further behind."

The stadiums and infrastructure were among the reasons why Poland and Ukraine were chosen ahead of Italy to stage Euro 2012 in what was regarded as a controversial choice, at least in Italy. It was not so controversial for UEFA, however.

"Knowing the others on the Executive Committee, they couldn't care less," Platini replied when asked if he felt some sort of moral obligation towards allocating a future event to Italy.

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