Sunday, 7th September, 2014
UEFA president Michel Platini has critised Franck Ribery for his decision to retire from international football and has threatened the Bayern Munich player with suspension from club activity.
Ribery called time on his international career in August after accumulating 81 caps for France, announcing that he was planning to concentrate on his family and club career.
Platini, who himself donned the France shirt 76 times and scored 42 goals for his country, expressed his perplexity at the winger's decision, telling Bild am Sonntag that it was in no way up to the player to determine when it was time to hang up his boots.
"When manager Didier Deschamps calls him up, he has join the national team", the 59-year-old said. "That's defined in FIFA's rules and regulations.
"If he doesn't he'll be suspended from playing for Bayern Munich for three games.
"It is not up to the players to decide if they join the national team", Platini added. "It's up to the manager.
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"Franck Ribery can't just make the decision himself whether he will play for France or not."
Ribery missed this year's World Cup due to a lower back injury and played his last match for Les Bleus in their friendly against the Netherlands in March.
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