Platini on Ribéry and Nasri: “Coaches Decide International Retirements”
Michel Platini, UEFA president, made waves during a Champions League draw press conference by addressing recent football controversies, including the international retirements of Franck Ribéry and Samir Nasri.
While Platini will not challenge Sepp Blatter for FIFA’s presidency in 2015, he remains a dominant voice in football governance. Asked about the decisions by Ribéry and Nasri to step away from the French national team, Platini took a firm stance grounded in official regulations.
“I remind the players that it is up to the coaches to decide whether they retire or not,” Platini declared. “So if Didier Deschamps wants to call up Mr. Nasri or Mr. Ribéry, they are obliged to join the French team. Otherwise, they are suspended from their clubs.”
The former French midfield maestro emphasized the importance of adhering to these rules, addressing what he described as “distant successors” in French football leadership.
Platini’s comments highlight the tension between players and management regarding international duties, underscoring the authority coaches hold over national team selections and player commitments.
Ribéry and Nasri’s announcements had stirred debate over whether players can unilaterally retire from international football, but Platini’s reminder makes clear that, under current regulations, the final decision rests with the national coach.
The remarks add a layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions about player availability and discipline within national teams, especially as France prepares for upcoming international fixtures.
Platini’s intervention serves both as a regulatory clarification and a warning, reinforcing the hierarchical structure governing player participation at the international level.
