Platini tackling israeli harassment of Palestinian footballers

Michel Platini has probably been one of the most talented foreign players ever to grace Italian football fields with his exhibitions: this recognition is made all the more admirable given the fact that in the early to mid-eighties several top-class footballers from all over the world migrated to the "Serie A" (among others we may remember Zico, Falcao, Rummenigge, Maradona), thus emerging among such a crowd required unparalleled talent and dedication.

Since his retirement Platini has started a brilliant career as a UEFA and FIFA executive, reaching presidency of the former in 2007.

And as UEFA president Platini had to tackle with one of the toughest and ugliest adversaries he faced so far; a much worse opponent than any rough-edged defender he ever jousted with on the field

Israel, giving his appalling popularity with the neighboring countries (legacy of decades of wars, aggressions and repression of the Palestinian people) is not included in the manifestations of the AFC (the consequences of matches such as Israel-Lebanon or Israel-Iran are much better left to the imagination), but is instead hosted by UEFA in its ranks, where its national team competes for qualification in the European Championship (where it has never managed to figure in the final rounds) and its club teams feature in UEFA Champions and Europa League (with a severe lack of memorable results so far).

Only Latvia and Malta manage to perform worse than Israel in this not-too-tough group".

Yet, following the spirit and the letter of an association which touts Football competitions as a mean of promoting mutual understanding and healthy sportmaship Platini could not avoid to denounce the systematic policy of harassment and persecution enacted by israeli authorities which obstruct and negate free circulation to Palestinian football players engaged in their own games and tournaments.

Backed in his action by Jacques Rogge, president of CIO he went as far to threaten Israel with exclusion from UEFA's events; a notable and corageous stand, given the fact that in all the decades of its existance Israel has paid a wonderfully low price for his long history of abuses and violences.

As a football player Platini was renowned for his free kicks, with which often he managed to best hapless defenders and goalkeepers; we can only hope that, as UEFA's president, he will manage to score one more time: a wonderful goal against israeli racism and apartheid.