LONDON: The January transfer window should be abolished or at least limited because it is unfair and distorts competitions, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and UEFA president Michel Platini said on Friday.
“I think a lot of coaches are unhappy about it because they don’t know if they are going to end the competition with the same team they started with,” Platini told reporters at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
“I think it’s unacceptable when, in one part of the competition, a player plays for team A against team B and, in the second half, he plays for team B against team A.”
“This transfer window has been created to allow for a certain amount of business in a few other situations, but I think overall it damages the competitions.”
His French compatriot Wenger agreed.
While Arsenal have yet to make any new signings this month, fellow Premier League side Newcastle United have been busy with purchases including French players Massadio Haidara, Mathieu Debuchy, Yoan Gouffran and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.
“I think it (January transfers) should all be completely cut out or limited to two players,” Wenger told a news conference.
“It’s unfair for the league, some teams who have played for example Newcastle now twice already have an advantage on teams who play Newcastle now they have bought six or seven players.