UEFA elects Michel Platini for the third time

European Football Association has elected French football legend Michel Platini unopposed for the third time as president of the football body.

Platini, 59, was returned by acclamation by the 54 member federations as there was no other candidate.

Platini promised to run the world’s most powerful continental federation with more “democracy” and also offered more cooperation with the heads of other confederations.

"I am proud to be your team-mate, proud to be the captain of this winning team and proud of our achievements," - report from the football body's website. 

"And I am excited to be taking on the challenges that await us over the next four years.

"I know that I can count on you. And you know that you can count on me," the UEFA President emphasised. "It is the closeness of that bond between us that makes us strong and allows us to take these bold and courageous decisions – decisions which always pay off. This mutual trust, this participatory democracy, is our hallmark, our trademark, and we will continue to work this way over the next four years. You have my word on that.

It runs nation and club competitions including the UEFA European Championship, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Super Cup, and controls the prize money, regulations, and media rights to those competitions.