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Michel Platini won't run against Sepp Blatter
Michel Platini will not challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, saying Thursday there was "no shadow of doubt" about his decision
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M
ichel Platini will not challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, saying Thursday there was "no shadow of doubt" about his decision.
"I know some of you were expecting me to attack FIFA but that is not my goal here," Platini said. "Quite obviously we want a FIFA that works better, more transparency, more solidarity and more respected by those that love football."
UEFA members were meeting for the first time since they confronted Blatter in Brazil in June over his leadership and alleged corruption implicating FIFA. That hostile encounter in Sao Paulo on the eve of the World Cup suggested a bitter contest would follow for the FIFA leadership.
Platini, the UEFA president, ended that prospect Thursday.
"We went for peace. I think it is the logical decision," Iceland football association president Geir Thorsteinsson told The Associated Press.
Platini will instead stand for re-election in March to lead UEFA for a third four-year term.
The former France great was expected to avoid a contest against Blatter after a successful World Cup strengthened the FIFA president's position.
The UEFA president has long been favored to succeed Blatter, his mentor in football politics.
Blatter, who is 78 and has led FIFA since 1998, pledged to fight for a fifth term after previously promising UEFA he would step aside in 2015.
The veteran Swiss official already has support from FIFA's other five continental confederations. (**)
