UEFA chief battles on but support is split

MICHEL PLATINI was left to fight another day after a UEFA emergency summit in Switzerland yesterday.

UEFA’s 54 members met in Nyon to discuss the ongoing crisis as Platini battles to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president, with an election scheduled for February 26.

Th e Fo o t b a l l Association backed UEFA’s statement calling for a “very rapid” conclusion to the investigation overr Platini and, in particular, ar, a £ 1.35million paymentment from under-fire Blatter following a TV deal.

Both UEFA president Platini and Blatter were last week suspended for 90 days amid the growing scandal.

But there is understood to be a split in the UEFA hierarchy over whether to continue to support Platini – or look at a ‘ Plan B’ candidate for the FIFA presidency.

That could even include former Manchester United chief executive David Gill (right), although Michael van Praag (above), the head of the Dutch FA, is seen as a much more likely alternative candidate. In fact, Van Praag is being pressed in Holland to declare himself as a contender to put Platini under even more pressure.

UEFA yesterday opted to issue a statement pledging support for Platini, although it looks as if time i s running out for the Frenchman. Th The member nations said in a joint statement: “We s support Michel Platini’s r right to a due process a and a fair trial and to t the opportunity to clear h his name.

“We strongly call on all instances involved in the cu current process: FIFA’s ethics committee, FIFA’s FA’s appeal committee and d ultimately the Court of f Arbitration for Sport to work very rapidly to ensure that there is a final decision on the merits of the case by, att the latest, mid-Novemberer 2015.”

That should still leave Platini with enough time to stand for the FIFA presidency if he is cleared but the FA have already voiced concerns. FA chairman Greg Dyke pledged to support Platini – but insists that would change if any wrongdoing is established.

Platini, the former France star, continues to claim he has done nothing wrong, even though there was a nine- year delay in the payment from FIFA.

Lennart Johansson, Platini’s predecessor, has raised grave doubts over whether the Frenchman can remain as UEFA president.

Johansson said he had never heard about the £1.35m alleged “disloyal payment” from Blatter in 2011.

“Not at all, never heard about it,” said Johansson, who remains UEFA’s honorary president. “He is one of my friends and I respectres him as the pre president of UEFA.

“But if this is true t then things wi l l happen.”

Asked if Platini c could continue running U UEFA, Johansson said: “I“I d doubt it... but I don’t judge himh yet.” Johansson said that there was no room for any corruption at the top of the “biggest sport in the world”.