Yahoo – AFP,
Tim Witcher, 25 May 2015
FIFA
President Sepp Blatter (R) and UEFA president Michel Platini pictured
together
in June 2014 during the World Cup (AFP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini)
|
Zurich
(AFP) - UEFA president Michel Platini said Monday that FIFA president Sepp
Blatter had lied about his plans for a new term as he backed Prince Ali bin al
Hussein's bid to oust the head of world football.
Platini
said as FIFA's executive met in Zurich that the 79-year-old Blatter fears a
life of "emptiness" if he loses a vote for the presidency on Friday
and that the world body will have no credibility if he remains.
Blatter is
a strong favourite to win a fifth term in the vote. But he faces an
unprecedented challenge and the Jordanian prince also attacked the
"waste" and "self-serving policies" of the leadership of
the world's most important sporting federation.
FIFA
presidential candidate Prince Ali
bin Al Hussein of Jordan pictured in
February (AFP Photo/Adrian Dennis)
|
"He
asked us face to face to support him for what would be his last mandate,"
Platini told French sports newspaper L'Equipe in an interview.
"I
have the unpleasant feeling of having given my support on the basis of a
lie," he added.
Platini
said Blatter had made good decisions in his 40-year career but that he could
just not let go of power.
"I
understand the fear of emptiness he must feel, that is human," the UEFA
leader said.
"You
have to be capable of handing over the reigns of power at the right time and
not be guilty of holding on to it at any cost."
Blatter has
said he needs a fifth term to complete his "mission" and explained
his change of mind by saying "times change" and that he feels fit
enough for a fifth term.
"He is
not staying on because he has a job to complete or because he still has some
big projects to carry out for FIFA," declared Platini.
"No,
he simply is scared of what the future holds for him having consecrated his
life to FIFA to the point that he identifies himself totally with it."
Platini
said that he believed that Prince Ali, 39, would make a "great
president" of FIFA.
"He is
not a politician and he does not need FIFA to exist," said Platini.
The
Jordanian prince is the sole remaining challenger to Blatter following last
week's withdrawals of Portugal great Luis Figo and Dutch administrator Michael
van Praag.
Prince Ali
said in a video appeal to the head of national associations that change is now
"urgent" at FIFA.
"The
conspicuous waste, the self-serving policies and controversial leadership style
of FIFA today have disempowered our national associations, hurt our sport and
cost us our dignity," said the prince who was until last month a FIFA vice
president.
Without
mentioning the scandals that have tainted FIFA since the award of the 2018 and
2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively, the prince said:
"Corporate and social responsibilities have been neglected, ethics have
fallen by the wayside.
"Decisions
about the game have been taken unilaterally and sponsors have left."
Blatter has
strong support from Africa and Asia and is expected to easily get a majority
from the 209 member federations on Friday despite the many scandals that have
hit FIFA in recent years.
Platini, a
member of the FIFA executive meeting in Zurich on Monday and Tuesday, does not
vote in the election. The Frenchman decided against challenging Blatter this
time but has not ruled out standing in 2019.
Another
broadside to Blatter came from Argentine football legend Diego Maradona who
told the Daily Telegraph that a fifth term for Blatter would be "an
absurdity".
"Under
Sepp Blatter, FIFA has become a disgrace and a painful embarrassment to those
of us who care about football deeply," the 1986 World Cup winner said.
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