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English FA withdraws support for Michel Platini in FIFA presidential election
While all of UEFA still backs Platini to remain the president of Europe’s football confederation, it looks like support for his bid to replace Sepp Blatter is starting to weaken.
UEFA President Michel Platini was suspended by FIFA last week for reasons relating to payments that their ethics committee felt were “irregular,” but after a UEFA meeting on Thursday, the FA’s of all 54 member countries announced their continuing support of Platini -- at least, support as the head of UEFA.
Platini is one of the men standing for election to replace Sepp Blatter -- who was also suspended by FIFA last week -- and he was counting on the considerable weight of votes that UEFA can lend him. At least one of those countries won’t be supporting him, though, as the English FA officially and publicly withdrew their backing of him as a candidate to be the president of FIFA on Friday.
The FA wishes Mr. Platini every success in fighting these charges and clearing his name, and has no interest in taking any action that jeopardises this process.
However, notwithstanding the above, at the Uefa meeting on Thursday, the FA learned more information relating to the issues at the centre of this case from Mr Platini's lawyers.
We have been instructed that the information must be kept confidential and therefore we cannot go into specifics.
As a result of learning this information, the FA Board has this morning concluded that it must suspend its support for Mr Platini's candidature for the Fifa presidency until the legal process has been concluded and the position is clear.
-Source: BBC
They apparently haven't decided who they'll support instead just yet, but losing such a major backer has to sting for Platini. England is a major player in world football, and where they go, others will follow.
In the news
Germany have been accused of bribing FIFA officials to “buy” their hosting rights to the 2006 World Cup.
Asian Football Confederation chief Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa of Bahrain has put his name forward as a candidate to be president of FIFA. (Guardian)
The huge Serie A match for this weekend between Napoli and Fiorentina is at risk, as Napoli are battling with their local city council over their stadium. (Gazzetta World)
Rafa Benitez is not happy about how many Real Madrid players were injured on international duty. (AS)
You should be reading
Micheal Cox looks at what to expect from Jurgen Klopp’s managerial debut at Liverpool. (ESPN FC)
Read up on exactly why Jose Mourinho got fined and handed a suspended ban when Arsene Wenger hasn’t for similar actions. (Sky Sports)
Want to know everything about Sam Allardyce's managing past but didn't know where to look? Now you do. (Guardian)
The Derby d’Italia between Inter Milan and Juventus has given us some great matches over the decades -- and some hilarious quotes. (Gazzetta World)
What to watch on Friday (click for listings, all times ET)
Bundesliga: Mainz 05 vs. Borussia Dortmund (2:30 p.m.): Dortmund’s momentum from their red-hot start to the season seems all but gone, with no wins in their last five matches. If they want to get rolling again, Mainz won’t make it easy on them.
Ligue 1: AS Monaco vs. Olympique Lyonnais (2:30 p.m.): Neither of these teams have gotten off to the start they were hoping for in France, but a win could help propel them back into the Champions League places in Ligue 1.
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