Platini warns English soccer chiefs over greedy owners

LONDON, Aug 6 (Reuters) English soccer authorities should not allow foreign businessmen interested only in making ''a quick buck'' to take over their clubs, UEFA president Michel Platini said in a television interview to be broadcast tomorrow.

''I would be worried if I were English because of all the foreign ownership,'' the head of European soccer's governing body said in the interview to be aired on British satellite channel Sky News.

''They could be rich people coming to help English football and develop it, but they may just want to make a quick buck. I fear your clubs will lose identity. If it was in France, I would fight it.'' Last month, Manchester City became the latest of several foreign-owned English Premier League clubs when former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra took over.

The Premier League say all club owners have passed their ''fit and proper persons'' test and maintain their rules governing club ownership are strong enough to discourage any wrongdoing.

In June, the British government said it would monitor the situation following talks with soccer bosses including the English FA and Premier League, but did not rule out the possibility of stricter legislation in the future.

REUTERS AE RAI2357