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Blatter's draw machine must have broken - we could, though it's unlikely, get an all english final in both competitions. Which would be a win-win situation, a couple of trophies plus the shock would kill him.

(19-03-2010 14:30 )m100 Wrote: [ -> ]Blatter's draw machine must have broken - we could, though it's unlikely, get an all english final in both competitions. Which would be a win-win situation, a couple of trophies plus the shock would kill him.

yeah, I get the feeling Blatter hates british / irish teams. Would really stick it to him, Platini and all the other cronies if there was an all english final!

(19-03-2010 14:30 )m100 Wrote: [ -> ]Blatter's draw machine must have broken - we could, though it's unlikely, get an all english final in both competitions. Which would be a win-win situation, a couple of trophies plus the shock would kill him.

As already explained once to m100, Sepp Blatter is the President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). FIFA have no involvement or connection with the running of the UEFA Champions League.

(20-03-2010 08:50 )BarrieBF Wrote: [ -> ]

(19-03-2010 14:30 )m100 Wrote: [ -> ]Blatter's draw machine must have broken - we could, though it's unlikely, get an all english final in both competitions. Which would be a win-win situation, a couple of trophies plus the shock would kill him.

As already explained once to m100, Sepp Blatter is the President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). FIFA have no involvement or connection with the running of the UEFA Champions League.

Sorry, but i beg to differ.....Blatter may not officially have anything to do with UEFA, but are you seriously suggesting that he doesn't have Platini's ear?

"Cronieism" (for want of a better word) is the one thing about football's governing bodies that is an absolute given.

Whoever blatter's employer, whatever his job title, football would be better without him. Of course Platini does what blatter says, not only does Platini want blatters job but he owes him one for getting the french through.

(20-03-2010 21:55 )colino Wrote: [ -> ]Sorry, but i beg to differ.....Blatter may not officially have anything to do with UEFA, but are you seriously suggesting that he doesn't have Platini's ear?

UEFA and FIFA have had several disagreements recently and most of the time Platini and other UEFA executives pay little attention to Blatter's opinions. Blatter certainly doesn't have Platini's ear. However, relations between UEFA and FIFA have improved of late and Blatter even said recently that relations between the two bodies were strong.

(20-03-2010 23:25 )cosmonaut Wrote: [ -> ]

(20-03-2010 21:55 )colino Wrote: [ -> ]Sorry, but i beg to differ.....Blatter may not officially have anything to do with UEFA, but are you seriously suggesting that he doesn't have Platini's ear?

UEFA and FIFA have had several disagreements recently and most of the time Platini and other UEFA executives pay little attention to Blatter's opinions. Blatter certainly doesn't have Platini's ear. However, relations between UEFA and FIFA have improved of late and Blatter even said recently that relations between the two bodies were strong.

UEFA showing a public face of total independance from FIFA may be one thing, but in reality it's far from the truth. Blatter on the other hand is only stating the bloody obvious, how could relationships between the biggest governing body in world football and the second most important not be strong?

Again, the "disagreements" are only for public consumption. There's no way in hell that Platini is or was EVER ignoring Blatter, especially as m100 rightly states Platini is already testing the water to be next in line for Blatter's job!! UEFA have a history of backtracking on major issues over the years, Liverpool being allowed in the 2006 Champions League as holders (After not qualifying by right, as per UEFA's own rules) after previously taking an "over our dead body" initial stance to name but one. Who do you think it was that persuaded them to do a complete about-turn and change their minds?

i've lost count of the amount of times UEFA wheeled out that bloody idiot William Gaillard (no longer in his post) to make an official and binding statement on their behalf, only weeks later to do completely the opposite. Nine times out of ten it was a "quiet word" from FIFA that enabled UEFA to pull off that particular trick.

(21-03-2010 00:18 )colino Wrote: [ -> ]UEFA have a history of backtracking on major issues over the years, Liverpool being allowed in the 2006 Champions League as holders (After not qualifying by right, as per UEFA's own rules) after previously taking an "over our dead body" initial stance to name but one. Who do you think it was that persuaded them to do a complete about-turn and change their minds?

It was the then president of UEFA, Lennart Johansson. The UEFA Executive Committee of 14 members was divided on the issue, but Johansson managed to persuade them to accept his proposal to allow Liverpool in. It was certainly nothing to do with FIFA or with Sepp Blatter, as many of the 14 members of UEFA's executive committee would never have taken any notice of anything FIFA had said regarding a UEFA competition. They had their own opinions and their own reason for voting the way they did.

The position of Fenerbahce at the time was particularly important, as with Liverpool out of the group stages Fenerbahce were qualified for that stage. By only offering Liverpool a place in the qualifying rounds the vote of Senes Erzik from Turkey was assured, as he wouldn't have voted to allow Liverpool in if it meant that Fenerbahce had to drop down to a qualifying round. 10 days before the vote only 6 of the 14 members were backing the idea of allowing Liverpool in, so every single vote was crucial.

(21-03-2010 10:46 )cosmonaut Wrote: [ -> ]

(21-03-2010 00:18 )colino Wrote: [ -> ]UEFA have a history of backtracking on major issues over the years, Liverpool being allowed in the 2006 Champions League as holders (After not qualifying by right, as per UEFA's own rules) after previously taking an "over our dead body" initial stance to name but one. Who do you think it was that persuaded them to do a complete about-turn and change their minds?

It was the then president of UEFA, Lennart Johansson. The UEFA Executive Committee of 14 members was divided on the issue, but Johansson managed to persuade them to accept his proposal to allow Liverpool in. It was certainly nothing to do with FIFA or with Sepp Blatter, as many of the 14 members of UEFA's executive committee would never have taken any notice of anything FIFA had said regarding a UEFA competition. They had their own opinions and their own reason for voting the way they did.

Sorry, but that's entirely incorrect. The original decision was to stand by the rules that UEFA had themselves set, i.e that Liverpool would NOT gain entry, as per the conditions for qualification laid down by themselves. (Pretty dumb that the holders didn't' qualify automatically, but that's another story) Galliard's original announcement to this effect was done with Johannsen's FULL backing, Galliard actually said as much during the announcement. The considerable furore that this decision created caused FIFA to get involved, via numerous (secret?) meetings between Johannsen and Blatter, though the scenario shown to the public was that Johannsen had in fact changed his mind and then convinced others to change course. Obviously no one at UEFA wanted to be seen as weak and as Johannsen's tenure was coming to an end anyway they used Johannsen to extricate themselves from an embarrassing situation that they themselves had created.

(21-03-2010 11:43 )colino Wrote: [ -> ]The considerable furore that this decision created caused FIFA to get involved, via numerous (secret?) meetings between Johannsen and Blatter, though the scenario shown to the public was that Johannsen had in fact changed his mind and then convinced others to change course. Obviously no one at UEFA wanted to be seen as weak and as Johannsen's tenure was coming to an end anyway they used Johannsen to extricate themselves from an embarrassing situation that they themselves had created.

FIFA were never involved in the matter and wouldn't have been as it wasn't their competition. Johansson never met Blatter around that time and wouldn't have needed to as Blatter had no great interest in the matter.

Unless of course you have evidence to the contrary?