UEFA has announced that its members will not boycott Friday’s FIFA presidential election but have instead backed Prince Ali bin Al Hussein.
Al Hussein is the only candidate to stand against under-fire standing President Sepp Blatter, who earlier rejected appeals for his resignation from UEFA President Michel Platini.
There were suggestions that the UEFA members might boycott the vote, but instead Platini revealed in a Press conference today that they will vote against Blatter.
UEFA has announced that its members will not boycott Friday’s FIFA presidential election but have instead backed Prince Ali bin Al Hussein.
Al Hussein is the only candidate to stand against under-fire standing President Sepp Blatter, who earlier rejected appeals for his resignation from UEFA President Michel Platini.
There were suggestions that the UEFA members might boycott the vote, but instead Platini revealed in a Press conference today that they will vote against Blatter.
“Today we had a meeting of the 54 members, tomorrow when it comes to the election of the presidency a very big majority of European national associations will vote Prince Ali,” said Platini.
“People don’t want [Blatter] anymore and I don’t want him anymore either. I have always said they want FIFA to be strong and FIFA is no longer strong.
“I am still trying to convince some [European football associations] who are not totally convinced.”
Platini said during the conference that he had asked Blatter “as a friend” to step down but the request was rejected.
“I told Sepp Blatter to leave, to step down, because you are giving Fifa a terrible image,” said the former Juventus forward.
“It’s not easy to tell a friend that he must leave but that is the way history is going. I’m saying this with sadness, with tears in my eyes. There have been too many scandals.
“Europe don’t support Mr Blatter…There are beautiful evenings ahead, but some dark days before them.”