By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
February 25 – Banned UEFA president Michel Platini insists he will do everything he can to clear his name as he accused those now in charge of FIFA of being “bureaucrats” who engineered his downfall after seeing his eight-year suspension reduced by two years by the FIFA Ethics Committee.
Platini will have to watch from the sidelines on Friday when Gianni Infantino, his UEFA general secretary, takes his place in bidding for the presidency of FIFA.
“I won’t commit suicide. I’m not on Valium. My destiny was not to be president of FIFA, but to be in the France team,” the 60-year-old, who is going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to remain at the helm of European football even if he can’t run FIFA, told L’Equipe.
“I’m not a politician, I’m a man of football. And today, I still am. But I will fight to the end against injustice, to have my name cleared, as I have done absolutely nothing wrong.”
The prospect of his number two claiming the biggest job in football administration when for so long he was a shoo-in for the position will certainly not be lost on Platini.
He has little choice but to back Infantino for the post but took his anger out on those he claims, somewhat unconvincingly, connived to prevent him running FIFA.
“The FIFA bureaucrats took power. It’s they who have done everything to have me fired,” he said. “Today, we must know what FIFA we want. Do we want a FIFA of the elected or a FIFA controlled by the bureaucrats? This is the challenge of the coming years.”
Infantino has worked at Platini’s side for nine years but only reluctantly stepped into the race for the presidency when his boss was suspended even though the multi-lingual Swiss might give the impression it was always his dream job.
“We spent nine years working together. He’s a hard worker. I trust him,” said Platini.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734881436labto1734881436ofdlr1734881436owedi1734881436sni@w1734881436ahsra1734881436w.wer1734881436dna1734881436