UEFA President Michel Platini has "turned on Sepp Blatter," the man he wants to succeed as FIFA president, over the £1.35M payment that has led to both men "being the subject of a criminal investigation," according to Sarah Ebner of the LONDON TIMES. In the "first public sign of tension between the pair," who have been suspended for 90 days by FIFA while the investigation takes place, Platini "protested his innocence," claiming that his name was being "dragged through the mud," that Blatter wanted to "kill him politically," and that he had been "bewitched" by the 79-year-old. The Frenchman had "long been seen as Blatter's heir apparent, but his hopes of succeeding the Swiss have been severely damaged" by the controversy and subsequent ban. However, he said that he was "the only one" who can ensure that FIFA "again becomes the home of football." Platini: "I was suspended for three months, but what annoys me the most is to be put in the same bag as the others. I find it shameful to be dragged through the mud. For the rest, my lawyers follow FIFA procedures and will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary." FIFA's ethics committee is "itself investigating the payment" which Blatter authorized to be made to Platini by FIFA in '11. Neither have been able to "fully explain" the nine-year delay in being paid for the work Platini carried out as Blatter's technical advisor from '99-02. Platini suggested that Blatter, who has described the payment as a "gentlemen's agreement," wanted to "kill" him politically, but said he retained "a little affection" for the FIFA president. Platini: "I admired his policy. He has a lot of charm and I can say that I was somehow bewitched. Even if he wants to kill me politically, I still have a little affection for what we experienced together" (LONDON TIMES, 10/19). REUTERS' Brian Love reported Platini said that Blatter had explained that his contract would stipulate an annual sum of 300,000 Swiss francs because that was "the top salary rate at FIFA at the time." The rest of the agreed 1M Swiss francs a year "would be paid at a later date." Over four years, such a catch-up payment would have totaled 700,000 Swiss francs a year, or 2.8 million. Platini said that when years later he was "asked to send a bill for money still due to him, he mistakenly remembered a contract salary sum" of 500,000 Swiss francs a year rather than 300,000. He therefore sent a bill for a total of only 2 million Swiss francs "for the four years in question" (REUTERS, 10/19).
'BULLET-PROOF': The AP's Graham Dunbar reported Platini submitted his FIFA election application papers before being suspended and hopes that his provisional suspension will be lifted -- by the FIFA appeal committee or Court of Arbitration for Sport -- "to allow him to run." Platini "must still pass an integrity check by FIFA's election committee," which will scrutinize all applicants after the deadline closes next Monday. Platini: "I don't think I've lost many votes and those who know me know I can look myself in the mirror. I'm bullet-proof" (AP, 10/19).
TOUGH TASK: In London, Paul Forsyth reported Scottish FA CEO Stewart Regan has an "unenviable task plotting his way through the political minefield that world football has become." As he has discovered, there is "no escaping" FIFA's "ever-deepening corruption crisis." Four months ago, the SFA "had some explaining to do when it fulfilled a needless friendly against Qatar." Now it has a "problem to deal with" in the shape of Platini. The question for the SFA is whether, in the circumstances, "it is appropriate to continue backing Platini's bid" for the FIFA presidency. So far, it has been an "enthusiastic supporter of the Frenchman's candidacy," not least because his politics favor the smaller nations. There is "also an emotional link." Platini has "long been a friend" of Scottish football and its execs, most notably the late David Taylor, a former UEFA general secretary and SFA CEO. The SFA says that its backing for Platini will continue, "pending the outcome" of FIFA's investigation (LONDON TIMES, 10/19).
