Change at FIFA ‘important for football’

Change at FIFA is ‘important for football’, said UEFA President Michel Platini two months before the world football body’s presidential election.

Platini, a FIFA vice-president, said the governing body needed ‘new ideas, a new programme’ as longtime leader Sepp Blatter seeks a fifth term on May 29.

UEFA is supporting the campaigns of all three of Blatter’s opponents: FIFA vice-president Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan, former Portugal great Luis Figo and Michael van Praag of the Netherlands, a UEFA executive committee member.

“Let’s see the programs of the four candidates,” Platini said in the video interview produced by UEFA.

“But I think it’s important for football that there is a change in FIFA.”

Platini said at the World Cup last June he would no longer support Blatter, but opted in August not to run against his one-time mentor.

“Perhaps it is not my time for the moment to go to FIFA. We will see one day if I go or if I don’t go.”

Platini is running unopposed for the UEFA presidency next week in Vienna.