MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Michel Platini announced his bid for the presidency of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), UEFA said on its website Wednesday.
“The UEFA President has announced his intention to stand as a candidate, and pledged to work tirelessly for the unity and well-being of world football,” UEFA said.
Five other individuals have also placed their bid for the FIFA presidency.
On July 20, the FIFA executive committee determined that the Congress at which the elections for a new head of the organization will be held, will take place on February 26, 2016 in Zurich.
On May 27, the US Department of Justice charged 14 people — including nine FIFA officials — with racketeering, money laundering and taking $150 million in bribes. The international community called for the resignation of FIFA president Sepp Blatter following the incident, despite the fact that he was not implicated.
In June, Blatter stepped down as FIFA president, four days after he had been reelected for a fifth term. He continues to perform the duties of FIFA head until a new president is elected in February 2016.
