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.

AFCON 2015: Mind your business, CAF tells UEFA

The Confederation of African Football CAF has sent a resounding message to European football body president Michel Platini saying his opinion on the postponement of Afcon 2015 can be described as treachery.

Platini had earlier urged CAF to postpone the Nations Cup due to the outbreak of Ebola Virus but the African Football body has asked Platini to concentrate on matters that affects his confederation.

According to report on Vanguard, CAF hit back at the UEFA boss pointing out that football activities sanctioned by the Europe governing body continue in Ukraine despite the war in the country.

“CAF under the leadership of its President, Issa Hayatou, has always promoted free expression within it. Far from it therefore, claim to deprive anyone latitude to express themselves,” CAF said in the press release published on its official website.

“But we must beware of what appears in every way as interference by a president of a Confederation, in cases involving first and foremost Africa and CAF.

“Under the principle of non-interference required to comply, CAF has refrained so far to comment on some issues on the managing of European football or any other continent.”

CAF pointed to the UEFA boss that despite the shooting down of a passenger plane in Ukraine and the ongoing civil war in the country, Europe’s governing body has sanctioned matches in the nation despite threat to human life.

“Despite the risks involved in armed conflict in Ukraine, a country where a civilian plane was shot down killing nearly 300 people, UEFA did not consider it necessary to exclude Ukrainian clubs from its competitions as a security parameter by hosting games outside this nation, as treacherously raised once it is about Africa,” the statement further said.

Michel Platini threatens to suspend retire Riberry if he fails to play for France

UEFA President Michel Platini has told fellow countryman Franck Riberry that he risks a three match ban if he refuse to heed to national team call up.

It could be recalled that Riberry retired from international football shortly after the FIFA World Cup which he missed due to back injury

''If Deschamps calls him up, then he has to come to come to the national, Platini told Bild am Sonntag. “That’s written in the FIFA statutes. If he doesn’t report for duty, then he would be banned for three matches for Bayern Munich.

''It is not the player’s decision whether he represents his country, it’s the decision of the coach. Ribery cannot simply decide for himself whether he wants to play for France or not.''

 

Platini also seemed to suggest that the winger can hang his boots up, after the Euros in 2016.

 

''He’s a Frenchman and the European Championship in 2016 is taking place in France, not in Poland,” Platini said.