UEFA president Michel Platini has cited match-fixing and illegal betting as presenting the biggest threats to the future of football, reports SportBusiness. Although the head of European football conceded that racism and hooliganism are problems for the sport, he believes the end of uncertainty about results would kill passion for the game and even the sport itself.
"Racism and violence do not affect just soccer but the public," he told French radio station RTL. "On the other hand, we are directly concerned by match-fixing. For me, this is the big shame. If tomorrow, we go watch a game already knowing the outcome, football is dead."
While Platini wouldn't comment on his future plans and the widely-held belief he is Sepp Blatter's heir apparent as FIFA president, he reiterated that he will fight for Qatar to stage the 2022 World Cup during the European winter.
He added: "In 2010 in South Africa, the temperature was five degrees at 5pm. We have to play the World Cup at the best moment to stage the World Cup."
