Pressure on FIFA president increases.
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Michel Platini has called for the end to Sepp Blatter’s reign as president of FIFA and has withdrawn his support for the Swiss who he has previously backed, reports BT Sport.
The Frenchman, who is himself president of UEFA, has backed Blatter in the past but it seems that recent scandals and controversies have proved too much for Platini to put up with. He appears to be upset that the 78-year-old is performing a u-turn on his promise to stand down in at the next election.
The former France midfielder, who has been alongside Blatter in Sao Paulo, said: “I do not support him. I have known him for a long time and I like him but I am not in favour of him having a new term.
“I supported him in 1998 but I do not support him in 2014. And in the future I will not support Mr Blatter.
“I told him. I think that FIFA needs a breath of fresh air.
“In 2011 he asked for our support [UEFA’s] and told us that that would be his last term…”
Things are going from bad to worse for Blatter after he received public criticism from both the Dutch and English FAs earlier in the week. It now seems less and less likely that he will remain as president beyond next year.
Platini is seen as one of the prime candidates to succeed Blatter in the post and has not ruled out doing just that.
“It is an option. But it is not because Blatter is running that Michel Platini will not run. And it is not because Blatter is not running that Michel Platini will run.
“My only concern is knowing what I want to do. I am 60 soon and I need to know what I want. I will take my time.”
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