Wenger taken aback by Platini's verbal tirade

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has spoken of his shock at an outburst from Michel Platini.

The UEFA president suggested that Wenger was more interested in his own club having 'their business' rather than the greater good of the game, something which the Gunners manager strongly refutes.

The tirade emerged after Platini was probed about the possible introduction of video technology, which the UEFA chief is against. Wenger was brought into the conversation and he went on to make further remarks suggesting his dislike of a small number of clubs dominating football in Europe.

"I am stunned by the aggressive content of Platini's words,'' he told L'Equipe. "I am a supporter of good management of clubs, for financial equilibrium. And UEFA must equally support this idea. I am fighting for the future of the game and of football.

"I don't see why UEFA should take umbrage at ideas that are different from theirs.'

"I am effectively a supporter of video assistance for referees, like all coaches, and I believe UEFA have an important role to play in this.

"I am for sporting justice and UEFA must be the guarantor of it.''

In Platini's interview with Dauphine Libere, Wenger's name was raised during a question about the introduction of video technology.

Platini replied: "I like to talk about football, him (Wenger) about business. We must stop with Wenger and all that.''

Platini then said he hoped video assistance would never come into football, adding: "It would make me happy that Arsene Wenger never sees it.''

Later in the interview, Platini again targeted Wenger when asked about his thoughts on Romanian side CFR Cluj's unexpected victory over Roma in the Champions League last week.

"That is what makes football so great,'' Platini said. "It is what people like Wenger do not want, little clubs beating the big clubs, because they want their business.''