Michel Platini has not ruled out a UEFA boycott of future World Cups if Sepp Blatter retains the FIFA presidency on Friday.
Platini flew into Zurich yesterday and personally told his old friend Blatter the time had come to step down after four terms as president.
Blatter refused, later ignoring Sky Sports News HQ reporter Gary Cotterill’s questioning as he arrived to address the opening ceremony of FIFA’s annual congress.
And the election will now go ahead as scheduled against the backdrop of two separate criminal investigations into FIFA-related corruption.
UEFA initially said it supported postponing the vote in the wake of Wednesday’s revelations, but president Platini emerged from a meeting of his member associations on Thursday and declared “a big, big, big majority” had instead decided to throw its weight behind Prince Ali bin Al Hussein.
And there was an ominous warning for Blatter when the Frenchman was asked about UEFA’s plans should Blatter win re-election.
Asked whether UEFA might consider boycotting FIFA and its tournaments altogether, Platini said: “UEFA associations will meet in Berlin next week. We will be open to all options. There may be proposals. I honestly don’t wish that.”
Platini also lifted the lid on an earlier meeting between Blatter and the heads of FIFA’s six continental confeder3.investigation.
