Ronaldo fee excessive says Platini

By Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - UEFA president Michel Platini described Real Madrid's world record bid for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo as "excessive" at a time when the world is in the midst of a financial crisis.

"It is very puzzling at a time when football faces some of its worst ever financial challenges," Platini said in a statement to Reuters.

"These transfers are a serious challenge to the idea of fairplay and the concept of financial balance in our competitions," he added.

The head of European soccer's governing body was referring to Madrid's 80 million-pound ($131.2 million) bid for Portugal winger Ronaldo and their recent signing of Brazil midfielder Kaka for about 68 million euros ($95.42 million).

The chairman of the French League, Frederic Thiriez, was also critical of the fees, saying: "Those amounts are neither understandable nor justifiable. Those excesses will lead the sport to the wall... I ask for a European financial regulator."

French clubs often complain they are not on a level playing field with teams in other countries due to the French League's strict financial rules, which forbid huge amounts of debt.

STRICTER RULES

In November, EU sports ministers mulled the possibility of a pan-European financial regulator for sport but decided instead to press soccer's world ruling body FIFA and UEFA to introduce stricter financial rules for clubs and leagues.