UEFA on Friday named THEODORE THEODORIDIS "as interim general secretary," according to SPORT24. Greek administrator Theodoridis "moves up from deputy secretary general" in place of GIANNI INFANTINO, who was elected as president of FIFA on Feb. 26.
But with world football "stuck in a corruption turmoil," Theodoridis "cannot take over the key post at the most powerful continental confederation until Platini's future is decided."
The French football legend "is currently hit by a six year ban" over a suspect $2M payment from former FIFA President SEPP BLATTER and so cannot take any UEFA decisions.
But if he wins an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Platini "could return to decide who he wants as his right-hand man."
Germany's federation chief this week "called on Platini to resign." But the UEFA exec decided at its meeting Friday "to keep faith with the Frenchman." Theodoridis, 50, "joined UEFA in 2008 and has been in charge of relations with the European national associations" (SPORT24, 3/4). REUTERS' Brian Homewood wrote officials said that UEFA could hold its presidential election to replace Platini "before Euro 2016 if the Frenchman's appeal against his six-year ban is decided" by the CAS in time.
Platini "was banned by FIFA's ethics committee in December and this week took his case to CAS, sport's highest tribunal." UEFA "has said it will not hold a presidential election until the appeal process has been exhausted." Theodoridis said,
"Whenever there is a (CAS) decision, we can hold immediately a meeting of the executive committee meeting and go through an accelerated process for an election" (REUTERS, 3/4).
