Two opposite views on Platini's comments from players, both contempories of Platini, who opened the way for black footballers in the 80's and who's suffering of terrace racism embarrassed football into speaking out against racism.
RUUD GULLIT
Ruud Gullit has hit out at UEFA's ruling that players at Euro 2012 who leave the pitch in response to racist abuse will be yellow-carded.
Italy's Mario Balotelli said he would walk off the pitch if he heard racist abuse coming from the stands but UEFA president Michel Platini warned it is up to the referee to take the teams off, and that players who took matters into their own hands would be punished.
Former Holland midfield star Gullit backed the power given to match officials but insists players who are targeted must have the opportunity to make a personal stand.
He told the Daily Mail: "The monkey sounds that greeted the Holland team at their training session this week were an embarrassment to the Polish authorities.
"The problem of racial abuse of footballers is now on everyone's radar and it has to be dealt with.
"UEFA have given referees the power to stop a game and I am behind that. The problem needs to be tackled straight away, so players shouldn't just keep quiet and play on like in my day."
Gullit added: "It has been suggested by the UEFA president Michel Platini that players would be booked for leaving the field as an act of retaliation and defiance. That, in my opinion, is the wrong message.
"If a player is racially insulted, he should have the right to leave the field."
"I would like to think we can trust referees to take everyone off but, if the officials are not supporting the players correctly, then the individual should act. The message this would send out: 'we will not tolerate this abuse'."
Gullit feels awareness of racism has improved since his playing days, when he admits he felt unable to openly confront the issue.
"When I played, I received racial abuse but I was just one of a few black players and we weren't backed up by the authorities," he said.
"I used to ignore the abuse and felt powerless to change attitudes. My only weapon was my performances on the pitch.
"We are beyond that now though. We just have to hope that racism doesn't haunt this tournament but that, if it does, the response is strong. The players need the support of UEFA and the football authorities need the support of the police."
JOHN BARNES
John Barnes backs Uefa president Michel Platini's stance over booking players who walk off the pitch during Euro 2012 in protest at racist abuse.
The ex-England winger insists racism is not an issue players should deal with.
Barnes was speaking after Holland players were racially abused during a training session on Wednesday.
"I 100 per cent back [Platini]. A player cannot arbitrarily decide he is receiving racial abuse and walk off," Barnes told BBC Sport.
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“You cannot arbitrarily as a player decide that because what you perceive racist abuse has come your way you are going to walk off”
Barnes suffered racist abuse throughout his career, the worst of which saw bananas being thrown on to the field during matches for Watford and Liverpool.
But the 48-year-old former Liverpool player said he would never walk off a field if he were playing at Euro 2012.
"It wouldn't be a problem to me because I am there to play football," Barnes added. "If it is a problem then the authorities have to deal with it, players shouldn't deal with it."
Barnes insists that the officials and the authorities should be left to tackle the issue. "We have to get on with the football and let the authorities do whatever they, in terms of legislation, in terms of sanctions, in terms of what they are going to do," he added.
"We can't take it upon ourselves, we still have the laws of the game. What Michel Platini said is that the referee has the power to stop the game if he believes there has been racist abuse and therefore that the players need to go by the referee's decision.
"You cannot arbitrarily as a player decide that because what you perceive racist abuse has come your way you are going to walk off.
"If then you say that every individual player can arbitrarily decide whether they are getting racist abuse or not then you could have five players walking off in every game because of what they have decided. Which is ridiculous."
The issue first came to light when Mario Balotelli suggested he would walk off the pitch if he was targeted in Poland and Ukraine.
"I hope there will not be a problem with racism at the Euros," the Manchester City forward said in an interview with France Football. "Because if it does happen I would leave the pitch straightaway and go home."
