adminGENEVA. — UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino vowed yesterday to withdraw from FIFA’s presidential election if Michel Platini, the UEFA president who is serving a 90-day ban from all football-related activities, is allowed to stand.
“Platini is my president and I’ve worked with him for nine years. It’s clear that I have his support, otherwise I would not be running,” Infantino told Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
“And there is another thing that must be clarified,” he added.
“My candidacy is not in opposition to Michel. If he is able to stand, I will withdraw. It’s a simple principle of loyalty. But right now I am a candidate 100 per cent and I’m moving forward, not only for Europe but for world football.”
Speaking of his plans to run for world football’s lead role, Infantino acknowledged he shared “lots of points in common” with Platini in relation to “development and reforms” but that he also had his own ideas.
“I am Infantino and Platini is Platini. It’s my programme. The priorities are the same but there will be some differences.”
Seven candidates are in the running to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president for the February 26 election next year. The other five candidates are Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Musa Bility, Jerome Champagne, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale.
However, Asian football head Sheikh Salman could also step aside should Platini emerge unscathed from the investigation. — AFP.
Online Reporter