Platini has Blatter's sympathy

FIFA president Sepp Blatter gave moral support to former France captain Michel Platini in the contest to be elected UEFA president.

The election, which will take place on Thursday at the UEFA Congress in Dusseldorf, Germany, has Platini, 51, running against Swede incumbent Lennart Johansson, 71.

"As a FIFA president I have nothing to say about this (UEFA) election, but if you ask me about my personal feelings I don't have to hide them," Blatter said at a news conference.

"I have a clear sympathy to a man who has accompanied me for 8-1/2 years as FIFA president in most of my business travel," said Blatter, calling Platini "my friend."

Johansson, UEFA president since 1990, had previously said he hoped Blatter would not publicly support Platini but feels Blatter did not break any rules.

"Since 1998 Platini has been my personal adviser and he is my friend," said Blatter. "He has my sympathy, but it is not a direct intervention."

Blatter also said he plans to run for re-election as FIFA president in May.

"We must maintain the social and cultural part of our football family and not force football to become just the economic tool to make money," said Blatter.

Blatter and Platini were in Moscow for the opening of an annual indoor tournament involving all 15 former Soviet republics.

Reports say that Platini, a member of the UEFA and FIFA executive committees, visited the Russian capital to garner support from Eastern European football chiefs before the election.

Platini would not speak with the media in Moscow but Blatter said it was just a coincidence that Platini was in Russia so close to the election.

"I have been coming here since 1993 and from 1999 Platini has always accompanied the FIFA president to this tournament," said Blatter. "This tournament has been held for 15 years and always at the same time in January, so it is a pure coincidence that this year it is being held just before the UEFA elections."

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