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| The Latest: UEFA says revenue rose 21 percent in 2014-15 | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| ZURICH — The Latest on the FIFA presidential election (all times local): | ZURICH — The Latest on the FIFA presidential election (all times local): |
| ___ | ___ |
| 4 p.m. | |
| UEFA says revenue rose 21 percent to 2.099 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in 2014-15. | |
| It is the first time UEFA has generated more than 2 billion euros in a year without a European Championship. UEFA’s continuing financial status comes as its general secretary, Gianni Infantino, campaigns to be elected FIFA president on Friday. | |
| More than 80 percent of UEFA’s revenue comes from broadcasters, who paid 1.69 billion euros to screen matches, including the Champions League and Euro 2016 qualifiers. | |
| UEFA has cash reserves of 530.7 million euros. | |
| UEFA says “the weak euro against the positive dollar has a positive impact.” | |
| ___ | |
| 3:40 p.m. | |
| Many FIFA committees in recent years were a waste of time, says a member of the reform advisory group which wants 17 of them abolished on Friday. | |
| Canadian official Victor Montagliani made the comment at a news conference when questioned about Sheikh Salman’s earlier attempt to woo CONCACAF voters ahead of Friday’s election. | |
| The sheikh promised officials from 35 voting federations he would find ways to avoid cutting the number of committee places each has to attend expenses-paid meetings in Zurich. | |
| The pledge to maintain voters’ privileges and help educate them in soccer leadership seemed to endorse the kind of patronage FIFA was criticized for during Sepp Blatter’s presidency. | |
| Montagliani says “a lot” of FIFA committees “were under the masquerade of participation and giving people experience.” | |
| Before the presidential election Friday, voters will be asked to pass a slate of governance reforms to help fight corruption and cut costs. FIFA’s current 26 standing committees would be cut to nine. | |
| Montagliani, who is seeking to become CONCACAF president in May, says if the sheikh’s intent is to “promote proper education ... then I am all for it.” | |
| ___ | |
| 3:30 p.m. | |
| UEFA vice president Angel Maria Villar has opened the extraordinary congress of European soccer’s governing body by backing Michel Platini to get his FIFA ban overturned. | |
| The congress is being held a day before Friday’s FIFA presidential election. Platini was considered the favorite for the job before being banned. | |
| The ban, stemming from a 2011 financial transaction with FIFA, was reduced from eight to six years by the appeal committee on Wednesday. But Platini is going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to appeal against the FIFA verdict. | |
| Villar, the de facto acting UEFA president, said through a translator that “Michel Platini continues to work to defend himself to defend his innocence and honor ... I firmly believe and hope Michel will be back with us soon.” | |
| ___ | |
| 1:45 p.m. | 1:45 p.m. |
| The CONCACAF soccer body has unanimously passed a slate of reforms to help clean up its scandal-hit operations. | The CONCACAF soccer body has unanimously passed a slate of reforms to help clean up its scandal-hit operations. |
| The 41 member federations from North America passed the changes for their regional body on Thursday, one day ahead of taking part in a similar FIFA vote that should oblige them to follow similarly higher standards at their own national level. | The 41 member federations from North America passed the changes for their regional body on Thursday, one day ahead of taking part in a similar FIFA vote that should oblige them to follow similarly higher standards at their own national level. |
| CONCACAF needed to act after three past presidents were indicted in the U.S. Department of Justice’s sprawling bribery case in which the Miami-based governing body has risked losing its status as a victim. | CONCACAF needed to act after three past presidents were indicted in the U.S. Department of Justice’s sprawling bribery case in which the Miami-based governing body has risked losing its status as a victim. |
| In the meeting, U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati says “we have had lots of momentous occasions over the past 10 months. This is a positive one.” | In the meeting, U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati says “we have had lots of momentous occasions over the past 10 months. This is a positive one.” |
| Among the reforms, CONCACAF will separate political and commercial decision-making and appoint independent outsiders to key committees. | Among the reforms, CONCACAF will separate political and commercial decision-making and appoint independent outsiders to key committees. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 12:20 p.m. | 12:20 p.m. |
| Presidential front-runner Sheikh Salman tells voters in the CONCACAF region that he wants to keep their FIFA committee seat privileges in Zurich. | Presidential front-runner Sheikh Salman tells voters in the CONCACAF region that he wants to keep their FIFA committee seat privileges in Zurich. |
| The Bahraini sheikh says he would create commissions to counter a proposed cut in the number of FIFA’s permanent committees. | The Bahraini sheikh says he would create commissions to counter a proposed cut in the number of FIFA’s permanent committees. |
| On Friday, FIFA member federations will vote to approve a reform package that will see 26 standing committees reduced to nine. FIFA wants to cut costs and be more efficient. | On Friday, FIFA member federations will vote to approve a reform package that will see 26 standing committees reduced to nine. FIFA wants to cut costs and be more efficient. |
| But Sheikh Salman tells 35 FIFA voters from CONCACAF that “I can promise you that the numbers won’t change.” | But Sheikh Salman tells 35 FIFA voters from CONCACAF that “I can promise you that the numbers won’t change.” |
| He says “I am sure that we need most of you around. It is an investment in the people we have in football.” | He says “I am sure that we need most of you around. It is an investment in the people we have in football.” |
| During Sepp Blatter’s presidency, FIFA was criticized for using committee seats as patronage to reward loyalty and favored officials. | During Sepp Blatter’s presidency, FIFA was criticized for using committee seats as patronage to reward loyalty and favored officials. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 11:55 a.m. | 11:55 a.m. |
| Former presidential favorite Michel Platini says unelected bureaucrats “have taken control” of FIFA. | Former presidential favorite Michel Platini says unelected bureaucrats “have taken control” of FIFA. |
| Platini tells French sports daily L’Equipe that “they are the ones who did everything to fire me.” | Platini tells French sports daily L’Equipe that “they are the ones who did everything to fire me.” |
| On Thursday, Platini had his ban from the sport cut to six years. He is appealing again at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. | On Thursday, Platini had his ban from the sport cut to six years. He is appealing again at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. |
| The case against Platini first stalled and then ended his campaign to succeed Sepp Blatter, whose ban was also cut to six years. | The case against Platini first stalled and then ended his campaign to succeed Sepp Blatter, whose ban was also cut to six years. |
| Platini questions, in extracts of an interview published Thursday, if “we want a FIFA that belongs to the elected or a FIFA run by bureaucrats?” | Platini questions, in extracts of an interview published Thursday, if “we want a FIFA that belongs to the elected or a FIFA run by bureaucrats?” |
| The suspended UEFA president says he has faith in Gianni Infantino, UEFA’s top bureaucrat who is a candidate in the FIFA election on Friday. | The suspended UEFA president says he has faith in Gianni Infantino, UEFA’s top bureaucrat who is a candidate in the FIFA election on Friday. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 11:35 a.m. | 11:35 a.m. |
| The head of the committee that ruled on reducing the bans of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini to six years has declined to answer questions about his decision. | The head of the committee that ruled on reducing the bans of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini to six years has declined to answer questions about his decision. |
| Larry Mussenden, the president of the Bermuda soccer association, says “I’m not going to talk about it.” | Larry Mussenden, the president of the Bermuda soccer association, says “I’m not going to talk about it.” |
| Mussenden is also one of the candidates running for president of the North American soccer confederation. By becoming CONCACAF president, Mussenden would also become a FIFA vice president. | Mussenden is also one of the candidates running for president of the North American soccer confederation. By becoming CONCACAF president, Mussenden would also become a FIFA vice president. |
| CONCACAF’s last three presidents have been charged with corruption by American prosecutors: Jack Warner, Jeffrey Webb and Alfredo Hawit. Webb has pleaded guilty and Hawit not guilty. Warner is fighting extradition. | CONCACAF’s last three presidents have been charged with corruption by American prosecutors: Jack Warner, Jeffrey Webb and Alfredo Hawit. Webb has pleaded guilty and Hawit not guilty. Warner is fighting extradition. |
| ___ | ___ |
| 11 a.m. | 11 a.m. |
| Candidates are making their final pitches to secure votes for Friday’s election to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president. | Candidates are making their final pitches to secure votes for Friday’s election to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president. |
| The first confederations meeting Thursday were the CONCACAF and Oceania regions. | The first confederations meeting Thursday were the CONCACAF and Oceania regions. |
| Outsider Tokyo Sexwale, a former Robben Island political prisoner, says “I have come this far. I am used to obstacles.” | Outsider Tokyo Sexwale, a former Robben Island political prisoner, says “I have come this far. I am used to obstacles.” |
| The South African adds that “FIFA is a house broken and needs to be repaired” but stressed “football is not broken.” | The South African adds that “FIFA is a house broken and needs to be repaired” but stressed “football is not broken.” |
| The favorite is Asian soccer confederation president Sheikh Salman. UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, former FIFA vice president Prince Ali of Jordan and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne are also in the running. | The favorite is Asian soccer confederation president Sheikh Salman. UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, former FIFA vice president Prince Ali of Jordan and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne are also in the running. |
| Blatter decided to step down amid investigations into widespread wrongdoing in soccer. | Blatter decided to step down amid investigations into widespread wrongdoing in soccer. |
| Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |