By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – For years they were the two most powerful officials in world football, sometimes at loggerheads, sometimes insisting they were the best of allies.
But after keeping his powder dry for several months in the wake of their respective ignominious bans from the game, Michel Platini has launched a savage attack on the integrity of Sepp Blatter who he yearned for so long to succeed as FIFA president.
In a revengeful no-holds-barred interview with le Monde, Platini charged that Blatter “tried to save his own skin” after both were sanctioned over that notorious CHF 2 million “disloyal payment” which ended their careers.
Both said at the time – and still maintain – they had a “gentleman’s agreement” but FIFA ethics committee found they had demonstrated an “abusive execution” of their positions.
While Blatter’s ban was reduced to six years on appeal, the case affected the highly ambitious Platini far more gravely as he sought to move up from UEFA president to running the world game. Although Platini’s own punishment was cut to four years, it was enough to prevent him attending Euro 2016 in his native France. And it is clear who he blames for not supporting him.
“Blatter does not defend anyone else, he never defended me. He’s the most selfish person I have seen in my life,” Platini raged.
“He’s the biggest egoist I’ve ever seen. He thought he would grow old, finish, die and be buried in FIFA. It was his wish. He always said I would be his last scalp. I know he was fixated on me, to the end.”
Blatter appealed unsuccessfully last August to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but it was thrown out with the CAS panel describing his conduct as “reckless, or at least profoundly careless” and his ban as “reasonable and fair.”
Platini was quick to jump on that.
“Don’t always believe what Blatter says. He’ll always tell you what you want to hear but he’s an exceptional political animal.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1735003361labto1735003361ofdlr1735003361owedi1735003361sni@w1735003361ahsra1735003361w.wer1735003361dna1735003361