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Michel Platini Announces Candidacy for FIFA President Michel Platini Announces Candidacy for FIFA President
(about 7 hours later)
Michel Platini confirmed on Wednesday that he would run for FIFA president, writing in a letter to the leaders of the organization’s member federations that he wanted “to give FIFA back the dignity and the position it deserves.”Michel Platini confirmed on Wednesday that he would run for FIFA president, writing in a letter to the leaders of the organization’s member federations that he wanted “to give FIFA back the dignity and the position it deserves.”
Mr. Platini, a 60-year-old Frenchman who is the president of European soccer’s governing body and a FIFA vice president, is the most high-profile candidate to enter the special election to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president. Mr. Blatter, 79, announced in June that he would surrender the post he has held since 1998 amid the worst corruption scandal in the organization’s history.Mr. Platini, a 60-year-old Frenchman who is the president of European soccer’s governing body and a FIFA vice president, is the most high-profile candidate to enter the special election to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president. Mr. Blatter, 79, announced in June that he would surrender the post he has held since 1998 amid the worst corruption scandal in the organization’s history.
Merely by beginning his campaign, Mr. Platini instantly became a heavy favorite to win the election. A former European player of the year, he has been a powerful figure in European soccer’s governing body, UEFA. He ran the organizing committee when France hosted the 1998 World Cup, and he has served on FIFA’s ruling executive committee since 2002.Merely by beginning his campaign, Mr. Platini instantly became a heavy favorite to win the election. A former European player of the year, he has been a powerful figure in European soccer’s governing body, UEFA. He ran the organizing committee when France hosted the 1998 World Cup, and he has served on FIFA’s ruling executive committee since 2002.
Mr. Platini has long been rumored as a potential successor to Mr. Blatter, but had never shown a willingness to openly challenge his mentor for the top post. A rift between the two men developed when Mr. Blatter went back on a promise not to seek a fifth term as president, and now that he is stepping down — and buoyed by expressions of support from soccer officials in Europe, the Americas and Asia — Mr. Platini appeared to be seizing the moment. By announcing early, he also may be trying to scare away other challengers before they enter the race. Mr. Platini has long been mentioned as a potential successor to Mr. Blatter but had never shown a willingness to openly challenge his mentor for the top post. A rift between the two men developed when Mr. Blatter went back on a promise not to seek a fifth term as president, and now that he is stepping down — and buoyed by expressions of support from soccer officials in Europe, the Americas and Asia — Mr. Platini appeared to be seizing the moment. By announcing early, he also may be trying to scare away other challengers before they enter the race.
“There are times in life when you have to take your destiny into your own hands,” Mr. Platini said in his letter to the presidents and general secretaries of FIFA’s 209 member associations. “I am at one of those decisive moments, at a juncture in my life and in events that are shaping the future of FIFA.” “There are times in life when you have to take your destiny into your own hands,” Mr. Platini said in his letter to the leaders of FIFA’s 209 member associations. “I am at one of those decisive moments, at a juncture in my life and in events that are shaping the future of FIFA.”
England’s Football Association, which at times has been critical of Mr. Platini’s leadership, quickly announced that it would support him. The association’s chairman, Greg Dyke, released a statement saying England had enjoyed a “good relationship” with Mr. Platini but also noting the challenges he would face, saying “the whole structure of FIFA must be reviewed and fundamentally changed.” England’s Football Association, which at times has been critical of Mr. Platini’s leadership, quickly announced that it would support him. The association’s chairman, Greg Dyke, released a statement saying England had enjoyed a “good relationship” with Mr. Platini but also noting the challenges he would face, saying the “whole structure of FIFA must be reviewed and fundamentally changed.”
“While we have yet to see Mr. Platini’s manifesto,” Mr. Dyke said, “we believe he will fully support an ongoing reform process.”“While we have yet to see Mr. Platini’s manifesto,” Mr. Dyke said, “we believe he will fully support an ongoing reform process.”
Two potential rivals for the presidency criticized Mr. Platini almost immediately. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, who lost a vote to Mr. Blatter in May when the president was elected to a fifth term, said bluntly that an insider like Mr. Platini was “not good for FIFA.” Two potential rivals for the presidency criticized Mr. Platini almost immediately. Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, who lost a vote to Mr. Blatter in May when he was elected to a fifth term, said bluntly that an insider like Mr. Platini was “not good for FIFA.”
“We must stop doing business as usual,” Prince Ali said. “The practice of back-room, under-the-table deals must end.”“We must stop doing business as usual,” Prince Ali said. “The practice of back-room, under-the-table deals must end.”
Prince Ali said he was meeting with world soccer officials before deciding if he would make another run for the presidency, but another executive who has said he will run, the Liberian soccer association president, Musa Bility, told the BBC that Mr. Platini did not “represent the change that we all want.”Prince Ali said he was meeting with world soccer officials before deciding if he would make another run for the presidency, but another executive who has said he will run, the Liberian soccer association president, Musa Bility, told the BBC that Mr. Platini did not “represent the change that we all want.”
All candidates have until the Oct. 26 nomination deadline to secure the support of five member associations. The special election for a new FIFA president will take place Feb. 26 in Zurich. Candidates have until the nomination deadline on Oct. 26 to secure the support of five member associations. The special election for a new FIFA president will take place Feb. 26 in Zurich.
CONMEBOL REFORMS South America’s soccer confederation, Conmebol, unveiled a raft of reforms designed to root out corruption and clean up the organization’s image after the biggest graft scandal in the sport’s history implicated several top South American officials. In a four-page document, the Conmebol director general, Gorka Villar, said all commercial ties with bodies linked to criminal activities would be reviewed and that contracts would not be made with individuals facing legal charges, among other changes. (REUTERS) CONMEBOL REFORMS South America’s soccer confederation, Conmebol, unveiled a raft of reforms designed to root out corruption and clean up the organization’s image after the biggest graft scandal in the sport’s history implicated several top South American officials. In a four-page document, the Conmebol director general, Gorka Villar, said that all commercial ties with people or groups linked to criminal activities would be reviewed and that contracts would not be made with people facing legal charges, among other changes. (REUTERS)