Then it is true we do build this mission

Can the football world implode because of the crisis

Yes, it is a risk. The financial situation of many British and Spanish clubs in particular is alarming. For the moment however, I would say that the impact of the economic crisis on European football remains limited. And, in General, I think that the clubs will suffer less than the small and the amateur world.

You often say that money has taken too much place in European football. Think you always

It is possible. But I have never intended to prevent that there is money in football. I agree that the quality of football has never been as good as today ' today. I simply consider that clubs should not spend more money than they have. It is not normal that some clubs accumulated deficits without penalty.

You are therefore opposed to the presence of private investors who place bleeds

I think that should be a distinction between those who buy clubs by passion and those who do by mere financial interest. From this point of view, perhaps Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea, like more than other holders of club football. The first approach is akin to that were carried out in the years 1970 or 1980 Agnelli with Juventus of Turin or Silvio Berlusconi with AC Milan.

However, Manchester United, which has been the subject of a LBO, is managed with much more rigorously than Chelsea...

Football is a game. Is not that people invest to make capital gains. It is a question of morality. What bothers me are the investors who redeem the teams by the debt, then reducing the revenues of the club. I note that Manchester United has won two Championships in consecutive England, they are in the final of the Champions League for the second time in two years and that the accounts are barely balanced! I am also concerned about foreign investment, because historically, football was based on the identity of clubs.

Suggesting you to avoid the financial excesses of the clubs

UEFA wants to introduce the idea of financial fair play. The basic principle is to not spend more than what is cash. There is no common rules. We will create a commission of independent experts will have the mission to establish a European control instance. All the financial component of the European licence that allows the clubs to participate in the UEFA competitions. This control was originally delegated to national associations. We will return on it.

Do you think that this initiative has a chance of success

This will take time, it is safe. But federations such as the Germany and the France, which have implemented a rigorous control of the management of their clubs, support us. They tired to do nothing win. In fact, the real debate is perhaps whether that will be the last word in the clubs between the owner, forced to pay bleeds, and business leaders, who want that nothing changes. From this point of view, the current crisis can help us. Because the owners are asking us to do something. I am, moreover, for the centralization of TV rights in various Championships. Individual sale, club by club, as it exists in Spain, promotes some and imprisoning others.

Would it not easier to put in place a ceiling of salaries ("salary cap")

I support a limitation of the wage as a proportion of the budget. I am against a "salary cap" individual. But, to restore a semblance of balance football, real reform would be to limit the number of professional contracts in each club. FIFPro (the international Union of the players, Editor's note) is in agreement. On a season, it is difficult to compete with a team that has two types teams international.

The wages received by players today are often considered excessive. What do you think

Salaries of players does not shock me. You know in football, only a few players are able to really make the difference. It is therefore normal that they are well paid. Simply must be in proportion with what the club can pay wages. There are now lots of money in football, it is normal that players also benefit.

Is it normal that football players are better paid than business leaders

I do not wish to enter into this debate. I am simply saying that it may seem shocking that patterns perceive bonuses even when the results of their business are bad.

You agree that clubs can be considered as companies

Yes, to the extent where a club should generate its own resources.

With for the season 2007-2008 a turnover of 1.9 billion for a profit of 236 million, UEFA has become

It can say like that, but our mission is primarily to protect the game. To in kind that football is practiced by many. Then, it is true, we do build this mission. But we have nothing for us. The essential is redistributed to the federations of the UEFA member countries, which have great need. There is more many States which give money to their Federation.

The crisis has an impact on the UEFA

Directly, not. We have a very conservative management of our money. The EUR 450 million placed to finance the Europool 2012 programs for example are invested without risk. For us, the most concrete manifestation of the crisis concerns the Organization of Euro 2012, whose revenues will be not as good as those of the 2008 Edition.

Is the principle of the co-hosting of the Euro 2012 by the Ukraine and the Poland questioned

The economic situation of the Ukraine is a matter of concern. Because the Poland was more helped than the Ukraine, including by the European Union. Or infrastructure projects that should there be built for this event is always not emerged. We therefore Lite program planned for Ukraine.

Was it wise to entrust the Organization to countries in which the infrastructure remained to build

Since the first day, this decision is political. I think that you need to change the process for the future. It now screen candidates who are actually capable of organizing such an event. In this regard, the French bid for Euro 2016 is significant. I hear not much about the community investment. Cities want to remain owners of the stadiums, but do not want to invest. It would be preferable that they give the clubs.

Football suffers a bad image. Is this unfair according to you

It is in any case. However do not forget that football has 250 million of licensees around the world including 1 million women. It is a mirror of society and its defects such as corruption or racism for example. Our mission is to take the necessary steps to hunt this type of behaviour of the stages. To racism or violence, we apply zero tolerance. Which has already led us to punish clubs such as Atletico Madrid or Feyenoord Rotterdam. Personally, I support a suspension of the game for ten minutes in racist manifestations. We are also very vigilant on monitoring of the sports betting. We asked each Federation to set up a cell of control. It is not question that we organize ourselves to paris. It cannot be judge and party. But we think the idea of certifying certain operators.

Could you not do more to protect children against the appetite of big clubs

The Fifa statutes provide that there must not be transfer of young people less than 18 years. But this provision is bypassed. The last championship of Europe of less than 17 years there were 3.200 "scouts" (young talents, Editor's note detectors) accredited! We ask that the rights of the child are respected up to 18 years. As for a Messi in Barcelona, there are 1,000 young talents who end up pizza. It is the only way for the system of the "home grown players" (players locally trained editor's note) accepted by the European Commission in the proportion of 8-25 club or effective.

Have you been disappointed by the French Presidency of the European Union

Non. A resolution was passed on the specificity of sport. Must be that Brussels meet the sports model and its pyramidal organization. In return, the sports movement must respect the specificities of the European Union.

You are at the head of UEFA since more than two years, do you intend to apply for a new term of four years

Am I not limit fixed. In my life so far, things are linked without planning. In four months, I had implemented the gist of my program. Since then, I discover every day new topics to treat. Football is a story without end and must remain. That is why I am very conservative on the values that have made the success of the sport. Today, everyone is professional in the world of football, he needed someone to preserve the spirit of the game.

Do you have a favorite for the final of the champions League which will oppose Wednesday evening Manchester United to FC Barcelona

Non. What I like is the foot, regardless of the manner in which it is practised, dramatic or more tactical.

A prognosis, then...

You are badly fallen. I am a very poor predictor. When I got to the UEFA, I put in place a competition of prognosis here to Nyon for employees. Currently, I am the 102nd place on 250!