Will Platini ‘push the button’?
Finally, European football has stuck its head above the parapet and, in the words of its President, declared: “Enough is enough”.
Michel Platini, so often cast as a bogeyman figure with his Financial Fair Play initiatives and format changes to the European Championships, has emerged as the good guy at last.
He asked Sepp Blatter to step down, declared that UEFA would support rival candidate Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and intimated that his federation could pull out of future FIFA tournaments.
It was all to no avail as Blatter survived again.
There are only three possible scenarios as far as Blatter’s involvement in corruption is concerned.
He was completely unaware of it, in which case he should resign on the grounds of incompetence.
He was aware but not involved, so should resign because he didn’t stop it.
Or he was complicit, in which case he should resign.
He chose to tick the box marked “none of the above” and, backed by national associations whose support he’s carefully cultivated, he’s brazening it out.
For too long the FA has been fighting a lonely battle against Blatter.
When anyone English has spoken out against him, FIFA have pumped out accusations of jealousy and bitterness.
Last year Blatter accused the English media of racism over its investigations into corruption surrounding Qatar’s World Cup bid. In response, FA Chairman Greg Dyke called on Blatter to stand down.
Three years earlier, Dyke’s predecessor, David Bernstein, attempted to postpone the Swiss’s re-election at a cost to the FA.
Before Friday’s vote, former Manchester United Chief Executive David Gill said that he wouldn’t take his place on FIFA’s Executive Committee if Blatter won.
The FA have led from the front on this but now, at last, they’ve got some support.
Words, though, are cheap. UEFA has the power to bring down Blatter and emasculate FIFA if it has the courage.
The World Cup couldn’t survive without its teams, the revenue their broadcasters contribute and the markets they offer FIFA’s sponsors.
It’s the nuclear option. We will see whether Platini will press the button.
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