Fifa: Michel Platini is not a good Blatter’s successor – SPIEGEL ONLINE

As for pathos, he is Joseph Blatter in every way: There were times in life, “where you have your destiny in your own hands”, Michel Platini writes in a letter to the 209 member associations of FIFA. With his candidacy as Blatter’s successor he had made a “very personal decision”, “in which I have weighed the future of football against my own future”.

So Platini. He wants and will probably inherit Blatter in the election end in February 2016. After all, he has apparently been pledges of Confederations of Europe, Asia, South America and North and Central America. That would be enough.

In order for the disaster at the football world governing body threatens to continue. Because so relieved many functionaries, also the DFB, are likely to be now: Platini is the wrong choice. He does not stand for a new beginning, for too long, he was part of the system Blatter, the FIFA has performed in the biggest scandal in its history: the arrest of seven officials in Zurich on suspicion of corruption and money laundering

. The Swiss made Platini 1998 his advisors. The Frenchman was allowed to distribute the Fifa-million from the “Goal” program – that development assistance for national federations so, with Blatter secured his power. FIFA boss Platini helped even with the candidature for the post of President of UEFA in 2007. It was the classic conveyor-pupil relationship.

It was only when it was clear that Blatter also 2015 not relinquish, it came the rift. Platini did not dare to run itself, for this was his fear of defeat too large. He supported Blatter’s challenger Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, leaving shortly arise speculation that UEFA could boycott the election Congress.

But it never came. Although Blatter Platini wanted to get rid – a revolution he never planned.

Platini is a member of the Executive Committee, in which all important decisions of the Fifa be taken for 13 years. He represents one of the biggest mistakes of the Association – the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Platini has openly admitted that he voted in 2010 for the emirate, the majority of other Europeans on the committee is likely to have specialized in him.

Even more came Platini criticism when it became known that his son should take a lucrative post as European head of Qatar Sports Investment.

What the Fifa needs is a credible transition. The can with Michel Platini does not give.