Sports

I’m not supporting Blatter any longer: Platini

UEFA president believes FIFA boss shouldn’t seek new mandate.

Afp June 12, 2014

FIFA president Joseph Blatter (L) talks to UEFA president Michel Platini during the 64th FIFA congress on June 11, 2014 in Sao Paulo, on the eve of the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. PHOTO: AFP

SAO PAOLO: Uefa President Michel Platini withdrew his support from Fifa counterpart Sepp Blatter on Thursday, plunging world football into open warfare.

“I am supporting him no longer, it’s finished,” said Platini. “He knows it, I told him. I think Fifa needs a new breath of fresh air.”

Platini, who himself had to come out last week and deny he had been pressurised by former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to vote for Qatar in the controversial and scandal-tainted bid race for the 2022 World Cup, said he agreed with his fellow Uefa members that it was time for 78-year-old Blatter, who has been in power since 1998, to call it a day when his mandate ends next year.

“I share the European position,” said 58-year-old Platini. “A new mandate for him would not be good for football. But he is a person one has to respect and he has all my respect.”

Blatter, who has been under pressure over the controversy-plagued 2022 Qatar World Cup, had declared to the FIFA Congress in Sao Paulo on Wednesday that he was ready for a new mandate despite having said in 2011 he would not seek re-election for a fifth term.

“I’m ready to accompany you in the future,” he said to the assembled Fifa members, though, his announcement was greeted by some boos.

The Fifa leader was helped by a congress vote not to consider age- and term-limits for officials. He later denied having any designs on a life-time presidency

“Well it wasn’t the Europeans who blocked the reforms, it was clear who voted against the age limit,” said Platini.

However, Platini still would not commit himself to a run for the Fifa presidency.

At present there is just one candidate — former Fifa deputy secretary-general Jerome Champagne.

“It is an option to run but it is not because Sepp Blatter is a candidate that Michel Platini won’t be,” said Platini.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.