Platini Believes Betting, Match-Fixing Are Biggest Threats To Future Of Football

UEFA President MICHEL PLATINI said that match-fixing and illegal betting are the "biggest threats to the future of football," according to Gregory Blachier of REUTERS. Although racism and incidents of crowd violence have "also plagued the sport," Platini said that the end of uncertainty about results "would kill passion for the game and even the sport itself." Platini said, "Racism, violence do not affect just football but the public. On the other hand, we are directly concerned by match-fixing. For me, this is the big shame. If tomorrow, we go watch a game already knowing the outcome, football is dead." Platini also discussed racism, praising AC Milan midfielder KEVIN-PRINCE BOATENG for "walking off the pitch during a match this month in protest against abuse." Platini: "It was wonderful. I really liked it a lot. I even called AC Milan to congratulate them" (REUTERS, 1/21).