By Andrew Warshaw in Vienna
March 24 – As the sole candidate, Michel Platini was re-elected UEFA president by acclamation today and took the opportunity to defend his organisation against claims they have become enemies of FIFA and are too powerful.
Promising his 54 member countries that they could count on him to take European football forward over the next four years and describing his election for a third term as “meaning more to me than you can imagine”, Platini did his best to allay fears that UEFA and FIFA have become totally divided amid increasing tensions between the two bodies, not least over the forthcoming FIFA presidential election.
With FIFA president Sepp Blatter sitting in the front row of the UEFA Congress in Vienna, Platini told delegates: “We love FIFA dearly. That’s why we want it to be perfect.
“Don’t believe everything you hear. We Europeans want a strong FIFA, one that is respectable and respected. FIFA will always be football’s supreme authority.
“Certain people are perhaps attempting to turn us against each other, seeking to divide and conquer. They try to isolate the arrogant and selfish Europeans.
“Yes we know we are in a privileged position and yes we know we make mistakes and are not necessarily better than others. But there is one thing you need to know. We need to work hand in hand for the good of 209 national associations.”
With UEFA tacitly backing all three candidates against Blatter, Platini added: “Whatever the results on May 29, we will continue to work together.”
Later in the day, Blatter’s rivals for his job – outgoing FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Dutch FA chief Michael van Praag and former Portuguese star Luis Figo – were to address Congress about their proposed programmes
In ballots that followed that of Platini, seven exco members were elected, some of whom were running again. The big surprise was the election of former Croatian World Cup star Davor Suker, president of his country’s federation who will have an important role in tackling fan violence and racism in his country following a spate of incidents in recent months.
In one of the final ballots of the day, England’s David Gill as expected was voted in as Fifa vice-president, easily beating his Welsh rival for the seat reserved for the four British home nations.
The issue had been embroiled in controversy over procedure, with the Welsh crying foul, but there was no objection and Gill takes over from Northen Ireland’s Jim Boyce at the top table of football’s world governing body.
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