UEFA President Michel Platini yesterday "launched his bid" to become FIFA President, as he now believes he "has the support he needs to succeed" Sepp Blatter, according to Moore & Atkins of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Platini promised to "restore FIFA’s dignity and said the body needed to 'turn over a new leaf' after becoming the target of both U.S. and Swiss corruption investigations." A source predicted that Platini "would almost certainly win" the FIFA presidency. However, his "links to Qatar, which he supported" in its bid to host the '22 World Cup, "have come under scrutiny." Platini’s critics "immediately attacked, suggesting that FIFA would not change with the Frenchman in charge." Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan, who may also choose to run for the presidency, said, "Platini is not good for FIFA." Liberian Football Association President Musa Bility, who has also said that he will run for the position, said, "Platini’s vote is right next to Blatter’s vote. Why should we replace Blatter? If you bring in Platini there’s no need to replace Blatter" (FT.com, 7/29). In N.Y., Andrew Das writes Platini "instantly became a heavy favorite to win the election" just by starting his campaign. He has "been a powerful figure in European soccer’s governing body" and ran France's organizing committee for the '98 World Cup. Platini also has "served on FIFA’s ruling executive committee" since '02. Platini has "long been mentioned as a potential successor to Mr. Blatter but had never shown a willingness to openly challenge his mentor for the top post" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/30).
FIT FOR THE JOB? In London, Gardner & Smith wrote former FIFA VP Chung Moon-Joon of South Korea, and Prince Ali, the man "beaten resoundingly by Blatter in his last election in May," offer competition for Platini. But both "may consider withdrawing from the race should it become clear that Platini has secured enough support to win the contest" (LONDON TIMES, 7/29). REUTERS' Brian Homewood wrote Platini "likes to portray himself as an old-fashioned romantic with a mission to maintain the game's purity." But some "may wonder whether the moody Frenchman is the right man" to clean up an organization "mired in a graft scandal reaching its top echelons." Some critics have accused him of "turning UEFA into a slick, financially successful and yet ultimately charmless" organization (REUTERS, 7/29). ESPN FC's Gabriele Marcotti said that Platini has "his critics as most people who run football for a long time have," but there have not been "any accusations that he's in any way corrupt or any accusations of corruption on his watch in his organization" as UEFA president. Marcotti: "That's the single most important thing to consider here and why I think he's quite different from Sepp Blatter" ("ESPN FC," ESPNews, 7/28).
