UEFA President Michel Platini will run for FIFA president and "plans to announce his intentions this week," according to Dunbar & Harris of the AP. Two officials familiar with Platini's plans said that the FIFA VP has made a decision to "try to succeed" Sepp Blatter. The officials spoke "on condition of anonymity because Platini has not announced his candidacy." The officials said that the UEFA president and former France player has been encouraged to run by "most leaders of FIFA's continental confederations." The FIFA election is on Feb. 26 and would-be candidates must apply by Oct. 26 (AP, 7/28). REUTERS' Simon Evans reported Platini's impending announcement, "expected
before the end of the week, is likely to prompt other contenders to
confirm their plans to stand." South
Korea's Chung Mong-joon, a former FIFA VP, is expected to
announce his candidacy next month, while Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, beaten by Blatter in May's presidential vote, is "also
considering running in next February's election." Platini has "long been the bookmakers' favourite" to succeed Blatter and last week his supporters indicated that he has "picked up widespread support from leaders of the continental confederations" (REUTERS, 7/28). The BBC's Richard Conway reported as well as the backing of his own European confederation, Platini is understood to have gained support from CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation. If every FA within those confederations voted for Platini, "he would secure 144 votes, which is more than enough for him to be elected as Blatter's successor" (BBC, 7/28). The PA's Martyn Ziegler reported a "credible opponent to Platini has yet to emerge" -- former Argentina player Diego Maradona and ex-Brazil player Zico have "both stated they want to stand, but neither would command significant support." If Platini is successful, "the question of who would take over the UEFA presidency would then arise." England's David Gill, who sits on FIFA and UEFA's exec committees, is "very unlikely to want the position which leaves Germany's Wolfgang Niersbach as the favourite" (PA, 7/28).
OUTSIDE HELP: Evans reported in a separate piece FIFA responded to criticism of its new reforms taskforce on Monday by saying an "independent person from outside of the game" should head the group. FIFA's statement came after Domenico Scala, the Swiss businessman "who had been approached by several confederations" to chair the taskforce, said he would not take up the role "unless independence was guaranteed." The taskforce is "being placed under the control of FIFA's Audit and Compliance Committee," which Scala heads, effectively giving him an "oversight position on the reforms." The move will "placate Scala, who had already been working on reform plans for FIFA before the creation of the task force last week" (REUTERS, 7/27).
WARNER SEEKS JUDICIAL REVIEW: REUTERS' Hutchinson-Jafar reported former FIFA VP Jack Warner's lawyers "plan to file for judicial review against the government of Trinidad and Tobago claiming political bias" in the move to extradite him to the U.S. Warner, "once one of the most powerful men" in FIFA, is wanted on a dozen charges stemming from an investigation by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Judicial review "could stall extradition proceedings against Warner, with appeals going to the London-based Privy Council, the country's highest court" (REUTERS, 7/27).
PUTIN MAKES HEADLINES: REUTERS' Tom Miles reported Russia President Vladimir Putin said that Blatter "deserves a Nobel Prize for his stewardship" of FIFA. Putin: "I think people like Mr. Blatter or the heads of big international sporting federations, or the Olympic Games, deserve special recognition. If there is anyone who deserves the Nobel Prize, it's those people" (REUTERS, 7/27).
