Beckenbauer waives UEFA Presidency

Franz Beckenbauer will not stand for the UEFA presidency. The head of the Germany 2006 World Cup organising committee, also said he had no plans for the FIFA presidency.

The German legend had been thought likely to oppose Michel Platini and incumbent Lennart Johansson at the UEFA elections January 27, but told Kicker magazine he wanted more family time.

"I must spend time with my children," he said.

He threw his support behind Johansson for the upcoming elections in the German city of Dusseldorf, but said Platini should follow as UEFA chief.

"The best thing would be that Johansson has another term and then hands over to Michel Platini," Beckenbauer said.

The 61-year-old said he still hoped to go into the administrative side of the world game as a UEFA representative on FIFA's executive committee.

"I would be honoured to represent German and European football at the heart of FIFA if I were elected," he said.

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