Fifa: Uefa strengthens Michel Platini – and seeks replacement candidate – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The corruption scandal in international football at present also determines what is happening at the European Football Union UEFA. Because in addition to Fifa boss Joseph Blatter also Uefa chief Michel Platini has been suspended by the ethics committee of the World Association. UEFA ranking on Thursday through to a joint statement per Platini. Nevertheless, the Association already considered whom he should send for the Frenchman in the race for the Blatter’s successor.

“There have been discussions about what happens if …” said UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino. For “contingency plans” but it was far too early. There are no other names. “Currently Michel Platini is a candidate for the FIFA presidency,” Infantino said.

The UEFA members are themselves also been agreed that the election of a successor of the World Association President Blatter also blocked “will not be moved” and more should take place in Zurich on 26 February 2016th

content did not respond to Platini on the circumstances of dubious two-million payment from Blatter Infantino. The 60-year-old Frenchman had received for services between January 1999 and June 2002 until almost nine years later from now also initially blocked Blatter two million Swiss francs.

Infantino it leaves with hints

2011 supported the Uefa associations under the leadership of Mr Platini the Swiss in the campaign against the Qatari Mohamed bin Hammam, the Frenchman joined itself not to. From the Swiss Federal Prosecutor Platini is so far undertaken only as a “respondent”.

Platini and Blatter had been blocked last Thursday of the FIFA Ethics Committee for 90 days. Shortly before Platini had submitted his candidature for the FIFA presidency. But the former world-class professional the registration deadline on October 26, the so-called integrity check is by the ethics committee and is approved as a candidate, seems impossible on the current state.

And it is deemed possible that the Europeans might on Tuesday still agree on a replacement candidate for Platini to Fifa session. “Whatever happens in the next few days, will be discussed,” Infantino said. “If someone else opens up, then we’ll see.”

One possible candidate is Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa, head of the Asian Association of AFC. He was believed to be supporters of Platini. According to the AFP news agency the 49-year-old will officially submit his candidacy on Friday.