European football governing body’s president Michel Platini has made known his intention to remain as head of UEFA and not contest against Sepp Blatter for the position of FIFA President.
The 59-year old revealed this during a meeting with UEFA member associations on Thursday, stating ”UEFA and European football have never been as strong and powerful as they are today and I have every intention of guarding this supremacy.”
Platini had previously called for a ”breath of fresh air” in the FIFA hierarchy, fuelling speculation that the Frenchman would contest for FIFA president at the elections next year.
The Frenchman’s stand regarding the FIFA presidency leaves for FIFA Deputy General Secretary Jerome Valcke as the only candidate to have declared their intention to contest for the position.
Platini meanwhile is now expected to champion a cause to increase UEFA spots at the FIFA World Cup from 13 to 15 nations, starting from the next World Cup at Russia in 2018; which would then see Europe make up half of the representatives should the expected 15-nation proposal sail through.
Platini, who won 72 caps for France and won the European Championship in 1984, became UEFA President in January 2007 after defeating former president Lennart Johansson by four votes.