Football: Blatter refutes retirement rumours

Dismisses suggestions he will stand aside early to let Uefa counterpart Michel Platini take over the governing body.

ZURICH: Fifa President Sepp Blatter has dismissed suggestions he will stand aside early to let Uefa counterpart Michel Platini take over the governing body of world football. Blatter refuted the rumours through his Twitter account. “The existence of a reported ‘deal’ between me and Platini for the Fifa presidency is pure nonsense,’’ he said. “The suggestion that I intend to stop my four-year mandate before its end is simply ridiculous’.’ Reports of a deal were earlier published ahead of a strategy meeting involving Uefa’s 53-member countries in Cyprus next week.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2011.