Blatter sniped Johansson

FIFA president Sepp Blatter sniped at his UEFA counterpart, saying president Lennart Johansson should have stated from the beginning that he would seek another term, though Blatter himself was once a latecomer.

"He should have laid his cards on the table," Blatter told Thursday's edition of the Swiss daily Le Matin. "It is a matter of respect. This is what Mr. Johansson should have done."

Perhaps Blatter should remember his past. He declared his intention to run in the race for the FIFA presidency nine years ago at a far later stage than Johansson has done now.

In 1998, when the presidency of FIFA fell vacant after Joao Havelange announced his retirement, Johansson declared his intention to stand as a candidate on January 17 of that year. The election was set for June 8.

Blatter, then FIFA's general secretary, did announce his intentions until March 30. Blatter, of course, emerged victorious.

Johansson had repeatedly said he would quit when this term was finished, before changing his mind and officially announced his intention to run July 11 last year. Now he will face off against former French star Michel Platini in the January 26 election.

Platini, who mulled his run 18 months previously, officially announced his candidacy on July 24, 13 days after Johansson.

Blatter, in a roundabout way, tried to declare neutrality.

"It is not my role," Blatter said. "Of course, there are sympathies. Let's say that I feel more like a footballer than like an executive."

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.