Presidential election heads into uncertainty following latest round of turmoil
LONDON: From sure bet to suspended, Michel Platini’s career in soccer politics could be over.
The Uefa president is likely to be barred from standing in February’s emergency Fifa presidential election, with his minimum 90-day ban starting only a few weeks before he would have had to pass integrity checks.
Thursday’s decision by the Fifa ethics committee throws into doubt who will succeed Sepp Blatter as head of the world’s most popular sport on Feb 26.
Here’s a look at some of the questions concerning the election:
WHY HAS PLATINI BEEN SUSPENDED?
Officially, the Fifa ethics committee is not saying why because of secrecy rules the all-powerful executive committee refused to ease last month. But Platini was suspended for 90 days along with Fifa President Sepp Blatter two weeks after they both became embroiled in a Swiss criminal investigation.
They were questioned by the Swiss investigators about why Platini received 2 million Swiss francs (about US$2 million) from Fifa in 2011 for work carried out up to 2002.
The case appears to be more serious for Blatter, who is considered a suspect. Platini is being treated “between a witness and an accused person,” according to Swiss authorities. Both deny wrongdoing and have not been charged.
The case could hinge partially on whether there is a written contract that shows Platini was owed the money. Platini said he wasn’t paid in 2002 because of Fifa’s financial predicament.
WHY IS THERE A PRESIDENTIAL VACANCY AT FIFA?
Blatter was re-elected for a fifth, fouryear term as Fifa president on May 29, despite some of his closest allies being arrested in Zurich after they were indicted by US authorities in a far-reaching soccer bribery case.
Four days later, the 79-year-old Blatter announced his decision to quit, seemingly under pressure from sponsors and the threat of legal action.
The presidential election date was set for Feb 26, with the deadline for contenders to submit their candidacies on Oct 26. Not only do they require the backing of five of the 209 federations but they must pass integrity checks to show they are suitable to run Fifa.
Platini submitted his candidacy documents on Thursday morning, shortly before he was suspended by Fifa. It’s seems highly unlikely he could be approved to make the ballot while banned from carrying out any role in football for 90 days.
IF NOT PLATINI, WHO COULD WIN?
Platini’s closest challenger before his suspension was Prince Ali bin al-Hussein. The Jordanian had the support of Platini and much of Europe in the May election when he challenged Blatter, but the prince turned on the Frenchman when it became clear they would be rivals in the new election.
The prince will hope to sweep up support in Europe, but for now Platini appears to have maintained his support.
And when Europe’s 54 nations meet on Thursday at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, they will be discussing whether to stick with Platini or search for a new candidate to support.
Chung Mong-Joon, a former Fifa vice-president, was ruled out of contention on Thursday when he was banned from soccer for six years over breaches relating to the investigation into the 2022 World Cup bidding contest.
Here are some other people who have expressed an interest in standing for Fifa president but who have yet to say if they have five nominations: Brazil great Zico Former Trinidad and Tobago captain David Nakhid
Former Nigeria player Segun Odegbami
Liberia federation president Musa Bility
Former Nigerian state governor Orji Uzor Kalu
OTHER POTENTIAL CONTENDERS?
South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale, a longtime confidante of Nelson Mandela, says he is still considering whether to stand. He made a high-profile international trip on Fifa business last week, mediating between the Palestinian and Israeli federations in Tel Aviv.
Jerome Champagne, a former Fifa deputy secretary general, is still mulling over his options after failing to gain the five federation nominations required to stand in the May.
German soccer federation president Wolfgang Niersbach is expected to be a future leader, but his immediate ambition appeared to be replacing Platini at Uefa.
CAN ANYONE BE FIFA PRESIDENT?
A recent Fifa rule states that would-be candidates must have an active role in soccer for two of the past five years.
But International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach called for a “credible external presidential candidate.’’
Some IOC officials have suggested a figure like former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan could be a possibility for the presidency.