UEFA President wants Sepp Blatter out of power

UEFA President, Michel Platini has revealed that he wants FIFA President, Sepp Blatter out of power accusing the Swiss of clinging on to power 'at all costs'.

The FIFA Presidential elections will be holding on Friday,  May 29 and Platini has claimed that Blatter will be standing in the poll on the basis of 'a lie' after promising to step down at the end of this tenure at a  UEFA Congress in 2011.

“No, he is simply scared of the future, as he has given his life to the institution, to the point where he now identifies himself fully with Fifa,” Platini said of Blatter in an interview with L’Equipe.

“I understand the fear of that emptiness that he must have – it’s natural. But if he really loves Fifa, he should have put its interests ahead of his own.’’

Platini who supported during his past bids to be FIFA President, expressed his disappointment in the Swiss to contest again.

“Above all, I am disappointed for the European associations that I asked to support Sepp in 2011, on the basis of a promise that Sepp had made in person. In fact, it was more than a promise; it was a real commitment,” said Platini.

“He looked us in the eye and asked us to support him in what would be his last term in office. And now here we are again, as if none of it had ever happened. I am perhaps too naive, too sensitive or too idealistic, but I have the uncomfortable feeling that I gave a personal undertaking on the basis of a lie – and so, indirectly and unknowingly, I lied to my member associations. That is what disappoints me, nothing else.”

After two candidates in the FIFA Presidency race-the Dutch FA president Michael van Praag and the Portuguese former world player of the year Luís Figo-pulled out, Blatter is now Prince Ali in Friday's poll.

“I have said on numerous occasions that Fifa needs a new leader, it needs fresh blood and a breath of fresh air,” Platini said.

“I simply believe that there comes a time when you have to hand over the reins instead of trying to cling on to power at all costs.”