Michel Platini, the president of UEFA, is taking a deliberate approach to deciding whether to run for the FIFA presidency. Speaking at the opening of UEFA’s congress in Dubrovnik, Croatia, the former French footballer indicated that he will only make the decision next year, during or after the Brazilian World Cup.
Platini emphasized the importance of taking his time to make the right decision. He expressed his deep affection for UEFA but acknowledged the legitimacy of the question about his potential candidacy for the FIFA presidency. He stated, “I haven’t yet decided what I will do in the future. I’m giving myself a few more months to think about it. I love UEFA deeply and viscerally, and it would be heartbreaking for me to choose another route. But at the same time, the question arises. It keeps coming back, it’s legitimate. This is why it is important for me to take the time I need so as not to make mistakes.”
Platini’s approach aligns with the strategy of Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president at the time, who had also left uncertainty about his intention to run for a fifth term. Blatter had stated, “I haven’t yet decided what I will do in the future and I’m giving myself a few more months to think about it. I will make my decision during or after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, not before.”
