UEFA: "Gone are the days of football in Europe being for middle-aged chauvinists" (M.Platini)

"From the most insignificant kickabout in the suburbs to the bright lights of a UEFA Champions League final, diversity, as a reflection of globalisation, is overtly displayed together with all the challenges it poses and all the opportunities it offers. This is a gentle way of saying something that might be better expressed more bluntly: gone are the days of football in Europe being a sport for middle-aged chauvinists, and thank God those days will never return," said Michel Platini, president of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) at the Respect Diversity Conference in Rome (Italy) on 10 and 11/09/2014.

"Those who govern our sport must protect the players from all forms of discrimination in what is, in effect, their workplace. They do so simply because these players, as humans, are entitled to respect. 'Respect' is the name of the campaign that I launched six years ago to tackle the evils that often afflict our sport. At the heart of our preoccupation is, of course, discrimination," added Michel Platini.

More than 200 delegates representing UEFA member associations…