BY Victor Akhidenor
UEFA president, Michel Platini believes FIFA lacks credibility while Sepp Blatter is president, saying his former mentor fears the “emptiness” of life after leaving office.
Blatter, 79, is favourite to win a fifth four-year term in Sunday’s election but the UEFA boss says football will be the ultimate loser.
“While he remains in place, whether he likes it or not, and whether it is fair or not, FIFA will lack credibility and its image will be tarnished, and so it will lack authority,”Platini told French newspaper L’Equipe.
“Moreover, it will be football that suffers.
“I would never attack (Blatter), but after a while you cannot simply hold on to the throne at any cost.”
Platini also said that Blatter’s claims that he needed a further term to complete his vision were not credible.
“No, he is simply afraid of what is next because he has dedicated his life to FIFA,” Platini said.
“I understand the fear of emptiness that he must have as he is human. But if he really loves FIFA, he should put it before himself.”
Like the English Football Association and Scottish FA, Platini also intend to support Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan – the only other presidential candidate in the election in Zurich following the withdrawals of Luis Figo and Michael van Praag.
“I am firmly convinced that Ali, whom I have known on a personal level for years, would make a great FIFA president. He has everything it takes.”
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