Michel Platini could announce as early as this week that he will stand for FIFA president after receiving backing from four out of the six confederations.
The 60-year-old UEFA president has yet to make a final decision but sources say Asia has swung behind Europe, South America and CONCACAF in supporting Platini to succeed Sepp Blatter.
Platini held talks in Zurich on Sunday night with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, and as significantly with Kuwait’s FIFA executive member Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah of Kuwait.
Both men are key to the Frenchman’s chances of success – Al Sabah is viewed as the most important powerbroker in the International Olympic Committee and together with Salman should be able to swing 46 countries behind him, enough to secure a majority.
Platini has long-held links with Kuwait – in 1988 at the invitation of the Emir of Kuwait he came out of retirement to make a guest appearance for the Arabic country in an exhibition match against the USSR, playing 21 minutes.
Platini’s decision will rest on his personal feelings – he has in the past questioned whether he wants to give up his involvement with UEFA, and its influence over European football, in exchange for FIFA.
Platini would be the clear favourite for FIFA however, and were he to win then Germany’s Wolfgang Niersbach would be a likely successor for the UEFA presidency.
source: football.co.uk
The 60-year-old UEFA president has yet to make a final decision but sources say Asia has swung behind Europe, South America and CONCACAF in supporting Platini to succeed Sepp Blatter.
Platini held talks in Zurich on Sunday night with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, and as significantly with Kuwait’s FIFA executive member Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah of Kuwait.
Both men are key to the Frenchman’s chances of success – Al Sabah is viewed as the most important powerbroker in the International Olympic Committee and together with Salman should be able to swing 46 countries behind him, enough to secure a majority.
Platini has long-held links with Kuwait – in 1988 at the invitation of the Emir of Kuwait he came out of retirement to make a guest appearance for the Arabic country in an exhibition match against the USSR, playing 21 minutes.
Platini’s decision will rest on his personal feelings – he has in the past questioned whether he wants to give up his involvement with UEFA, and its influence over European football, in exchange for FIFA.
Platini would be the clear favourite for FIFA however, and were he to win then Germany’s Wolfgang Niersbach would be a likely successor for the UEFA presidency.
source: football.co.uk
