FOLLOWING the recent reports of Dutch players being racially abused prior to Euro 2012 even kicking off, Michel Platini and UEFA are, as usual, simply papering over the cracks.

As a player for France, brilliant as Platini then was, the now UEFA president was even at that time constantly trying to run the game for the referee.

In 1998, Platini directly and blatantly interfered with referees’ approaches to games, saying that he felt that not enough red cards had been shown.

In a delicious irony, Laurent Blanc of France was dismissed in the very next game, the semi-final against Croatia, causing Blanc to miss the final with Brazil.

Now in 2012 asking referees to suspend games because of racial abuse from the stands is just another way for Platini and his toothless partners in UEFA to circumvent their own responsibilities.

It was refreshing to hear the comments of Dutch player Clarence Seedorf, when he said: “I ignore it, I don’t show them it hurts, I rise above it, I get on and play” – but the appropriate authorities need to deal with it for him and many others.

UEFA itself, along with the police of the two host nations, has the authority to eject, arrest and prosecute offenders but Platini chooses to rely on the match referee. Madness.

Referees do deal with offences of racism when committed and detected on the field of play but in fairness, they don’t have time to concentrate on what’s being bellowed from the stands, however offensive it may be.

UEFA and Platini really need to step up and deal with this issue head-on to protect players and supporters.

Their much advertised zero tolerance is in reality more like zero action.

Our own Football Association has, to its great credit, been courageous enough to do as much to tackle this problem as it can.

UEFA needs to follow the FA’s lead. Football in England is still, I hope, a place where everyone can be involved in a safe and equal environment.

DAVID WILLIAMS, David Walter Close, Oxford