Platini says supporters become identity of football

PanARMENIAN.Net - UEFA met with representatives of supporters' groups in Nyon to continue the crucial dialogue between the governing body and fans with the overall good health of football in mind.

UEFA has met with representatives of supporters' groups at the House of European Football in Nyon, continuing the crucial dialogue between the continental governing body and fans with the overall good health of football in mind.

UEFA was represented at the meeting, which is held every year, by President Michel Platini, General Secretary Gianni Infantino, adviser to the UEFA President William Gaillard and members of the UEFA administration. Supporters' groups were represented by Football Supporters Europe (FSE), Supporters Direct (SD) Europe, and the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) – all of whom receive specific UEFA backing and recognition. This was the sixth such meeting between UEFA and the fan groups.

"In this day and age, supporters are increasingly becoming the identity of football," Michel Platini told the gathering. "The fans are always there, irrespective of whether things are going well or badly at a club. They are always in the stadiums. They are the true soul of the game, and I welcome the fact that UEFA and the fans are working together and informing each other about what we are doing."

Mr Platini urged fans to make their contribution to raising awareness of, and combating, negative phenomena within the game.

"Neither supporters nor UEFA can clear football of all its ills," the UEFA President said. "If I take match-fixing, it should not be the role of supporters to address this. Match-fixing touches the players, the heart of our game, as they affect the results of the matches on the field of play. We have to have a zero-tolerance policy on this matter, and any player found fixing a match must be removed from our game as quickly as possible, UEFA official website reported.