MICHEL PLATINI IS set to announce his plans to run for Fifa president later this week.
The 60-year-old has long been seen as the perfect successor to Sepp Blatter, who is standing down as the organisation’s chief amid controversy and relentless questions about corruption.
The Frenchman, who has been Uefa president since January 2007, decided not to run against Blatter in last year’s Fifa election but has reportedly been encouraged to stand this time by a multitude of key football figures.
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That’s in contrast to the situation last March when Blatter controlled the majority of support at a confederation level which would’ve made it close to impossible for Platini to gain a majority even if he did put his name forward.
Seen as someone who could implement wide reform, Platini has been at the centre of controversy too. In May 2013, he told The Guardian that despite being present at a now infamous meeting between then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Qatar royalty, Platini was never told which way to vote in the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process.
Still, he voted for Qatar and began to actively seek moving the 2022 tournament to winter once the Arab state won the bid.
Platini seems set to take over from Sepp Blatter as president of Fifa. Mike Egerton / EMPICS Sport
Mike Egerton / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport
Then, Platini’s son Laurent was hired by a Qatari-owned sports kit company as its chief executive.
But Platini has always maintained his transparency and insisted that the decisions he’s made are for the benefit of football.
The Fifa election takes place on February 26th 2016 and candidates need to apply before October 26th.
Is this the man to save Fifa? Michel Platini set to run for presidency
MICHEL PLATINI IS set to announce his plans to run for Fifa president later this week.
The 60-year-old has long been seen as the perfect successor to Sepp Blatter, who is standing down as the organisation’s chief amid controversy and relentless questions about corruption.
The Frenchman, who has been Uefa president since January 2007, decided not to run against Blatter in last year’s Fifa election but has reportedly been encouraged to stand this time by a multitude of key football figures.
That’s in contrast to the situation last March when Blatter controlled the majority of support at a confederation level which would’ve made it close to impossible for Platini to gain a majority even if he did put his name forward.
Seen as someone who could implement wide reform, Platini has been at the centre of controversy too. In May 2013, he told The Guardian that despite being present at a now infamous meeting between then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Qatar royalty, Platini was never told which way to vote in the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process.
Still, he voted for Qatar and began to actively seek moving the 2022 tournament to winter once the Arab state won the bid.
Then, Platini’s son Laurent was hired by a Qatari-owned sports kit company as its chief executive.
But Platini has always maintained his transparency and insisted that the decisions he’s made are for the benefit of football.
The Fifa election takes place on February 26th 2016 and candidates need to apply before October 26th.
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FIFA Presidency in with the old Michel Platini Qatar 2022 Sepp Blatter