By Andrew Warshaw
January 20 – As UEFA’s top brass prepare to convene at their Swiss headquarters this week amidst the fallout from Michel Platini’s ban, the head of one of Europe’s smallest federations has blown open the divisions and uncertainty afflicting European football’s governing body.
UEFA has been at pains to publicly stand as one behind Platini as he fights his appeal against his eight-year ban whilst at the same time endorsing Gianni Infantino’s FIFA presidential candidacy in Platini’s place.
But Luxembourg FA boss Paul Philipp says the reality is very different and that UEFA is in danger of becoming a rudderless ship and falling apart at the seams.
In a stark appraisal of the current political landscape, Philipp says he can’t see Platini returning to lead UEFA – even if he clears his name. And, he reveals, it is by no means certain that all of Europe’s 54 federations will support Infantino at next month’s FIFA ballot.
Philipp says that while it “makes sense” Platini has pulled out of the FIFA presidential race to concentrate on his appeal against his eight-year ban, UEFA needs to get its own house in order – and fast.
“By reading his (Platini’s) statements, I realize that he speaks only of one thing: FIFA,” says Philipp. “Meantime, UEFA begins to look like a ship without a captain. Especially as its General Secretary himself is campaigning.”
In a hard-hitting interview with the Luxembourg newspaper Le Quotidien, Philipp says it is imperative that UEFA’s executive committee, meeting later this week, addresses the organisation’s immediate future and, in particular, its own leadership.
“UEFA was working fine but now everything is falling apart. It is urgent that the executive committee restores some order. At present, there are meetings all over the place. We even hold talks on flights.”
Asked whether Platini will remain as UEFA boss, Philippe responds: “Difficult. I can’t see Michel Platini staying, no. Can you imagine the President of UEFA, an automatic vice president of FIFA, working with people with whom he now has problems?”
Looking ahead to the FIFA presidential election, Philipp has given the strongest public hint yet that Infantino will not have Europe all to himself and that the European vote could be split amongst the five candidates.
“You know, among us, he is not the unanimous choice,” he disclosed. “Moreover, we do not even know exactly who we will vote for. There is a meeting (UEFA Congress) scheduled the day before the vote for the presidency of FIFA. It might be necessary that we consider the programmes.”
Philipp also believes there are still more dramatic developments to come in the FIFA corruption scandal that has so far snared 41 individuals and entities.
“If my information is correct, it is not finished. We will still hear a lot between now and February 26, as the United States has in the firing line absolutely everyone who voted for Qatar for the World Cup 2022.”
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