Michel Platini is currently serving a 90-day ban from soccer, but he still thinks he’s the best person to run FIFA.
Seven people are in the running to become the next FIFA president, which is set to occur on Feb. 26, and despite being suspended by FIFA’s Ethics Committee, Platini firmly believes that his name will be cleared.
“I am, in all humility, the most able to run world football,” Platini told The Telegraph.
“I don’t want to believe in conspiracy theories,” he added when asked about Sepp Blatter’s motives for waiting so long to pay him. “Yes, I have waited a long time to reclaim what I was owed. But the only mistake is that I let several years go by. I had faith in the word of the FIFA president and I knew he would pay me one day. I was lucky enough not to need the money, but just because I don’t need the money doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be paid for my work.”
The UEFA president also accused the ethics committee of failing to properly investigate his case before suspending him, and he is still quite confident that he will be the one to replace Blatter as the head of FIFA next year.
Platini’s suspension and current investigation stems from a payment he received by Blatter in 2011 while apparently doing the work for him during 1999-2002.
Here are some more news and notes:
RONALDO MIGHT END CAREER IN ENGLAND
According to Jose Semedo, a longtime friend and former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, the Portuguese superstar will play in England once again.
The current Sheffield Wednesday midfielder told talkSPORT that Ronaldo wishes his Spanish club was in the English Premier League, but a move there before the end of his professional career would also make him happy.
“He is very happy at Real Madrid and he loves English football, he loves English people and deep down I think he will come back to England,” Semedo said. “He doesn’t like he wants to finish his career without coming back to England. He said he would wish Real Madrid is in England, but that is not possible so I believe he will end his career in English football.”
Ronaldo’s current contract with Madrid runs until 2018. He will be 33 years old at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season and has previously been linked with a move to MLS.
VAN GAAL RUES MAN UNITED’S INABILITY TO FINISH CHANCES
Wednesday was not the best day to be a Red Devils supporter, player or coach.
Manchester United crashed out of the Football League Cup to Middlesbrough via a 3-1 penalty kick shootout after a scoreless tie through 120 minutes of play. For United, it was the second consecutive game the team was unable to score a goal, and that disappointed head coach Louis Van Gaal.
“When you are not finishing the chances — and they were very easy chances in front of the goal or in front of the goalkeeper — then it is very difficult to win a game because the goals are counting, not the chances,” Van Gaal said. “I am so disappointed. We create so many chances in the second half and in extra-time and we couldn’t finish.
“You have to finish. The goal is the most important thing in football and we didn’t do it.”
After a scoreless game at Old Trafford, it was Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Michael Carrick who missed for the Red Devils during penalty kicks.
Elsewhere in cup competition, head coach Jurgen Klopp led Liverpool to its first win, a 1-0 result, under his helm against AFC Bournemouth. Manchester City thoroughly pummeled Crystal Palace, 5-1, and Southampton edged Aston Villa, 2-1.
QUICK KICKS:
Borussia Dortmund, FC Augsburg, Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and TSV Eintracht Braunschweig all advanced in the German DFB Pokal.
Paul Pogba could still move to Barcelona, according to his agent, Mino Raiola, but a move is unlikely in January. (REPORT)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expects Christian Benteke to return to the team against Chelsea Saturday, but Daniel Sturridge will likely miss the meeting. (REPORT)
Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta says current president Josep Maria Bartomeu “is a liar” and also says he is “embarrassed by the presence of Qatar on the Barca shirt.” (REPORT)
Tallest midget competition.
I’ve read far too many people believing Platnini is somehow exempt from Blatter’s actions or not involved in some capacity.
At the end of the day, it’s fair to assume (guilt by association) that the scope of corruption spans far too wide to consider any of these candidates as “best fit” or “with integrity”.
Platini = perfect for the job (1) because he is beyond arrogant and (2) he may meet FIFA’s minimum standard for a corrupt kleptocrat.
“…in all humility, I am the most able to run world football.” ~Humility!
“I have waited a long time to reclaim what I was owed.” Nobody owes you this job you pr***. A sense of entitlement. Just what FIFA needs. Another entitled SOB running global football.
The last two heads of FIFA have been masters of overseeing corruption on a global scale, so clearly this must be a qualification. Platini has yet to really explain why taking $ millions just before a vote on the WC at best shows poor judgement on such a scale that he should be disqualified for being a CEO of a global business. It kind of has a stench of corruption about it monsieur. The difference between crashing your car at 4:30 PM and 4:30 AM is usually surrounded by a whole different set of circumstances. Take your money a decade or so ago when you supposedly provided services and no one blinks. Collect just before voting for Qatar and … draw your own conclusions.