29 Aug 2014

Platini won't run for FIFA presidency

12:14 pm on 29 August 2014

UEFA's president Michel Platini has ruled himself out of the running for the most powerful job in world football because he couldn't convince himself that opposing the incumbent Sepp Blatter was the right thing to do.

UEFA boss Michel Platini

UEFA boss Michel Platini Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The former France international told a packed news conference in Monte Carlo that he would offer himself instead for re-election as UEFA president, a role he has held since 2007.

Platini says he's deliberated for months before deciding against standing, but the 59-year-old still believes it's time Blatter went.

The 78-year-old Swiss has indicated he'll be standing for a fifth term, despite criticism that the game and FIFA have been tarnished by allegations of corruption during his reign.

Meanwhile Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo has been named European Footballer of the Year, the Portuguese striker topping the journalists' poll ahead of Germany's World Cup winner Manuel Neuer and Dutchman Arjen Robben.

Ronaldo is the fourth recipient of the award, succeeding Franck Ribery, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.

Attacking midfielder Nadine Kessler won the women's award ahead of Wolfsburg team-mates Nilla Fischer of Sweden and fellow German Martina Muller.