Russia to Support Platini’s Bid for FIFA President

Russia’s Football Union honorary president Vyacheslav Koloskov called Michel Platini "very good candidature for the position of FIFA president."

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia will support the President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Michel Platini if he announces bid for the presidency of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Russia’s Football Union honorary president Vyacheslav Koloskov told R-Sport Monday.

The FIFA executive committee determined at Monday meeting 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.

“Of course we will support Platini. This is a very good candidature for the position of FIFA president,” Koloskov said.

In June, following a major FIFA corruption scandal, the organization's long-standing president Sepp Blatter announced he would resign, continuing to perform his duties until a new president is elected.

Earlier in July, Spanish media reported that president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Michel Platini would stand for the FIFA presidency.

Platini reportedly gathered support of four regional football confederations: the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) and UEFA.

Michel Platini is a former prominent former football player who won Ballon d’Or, the prize given to the best footballer of the year, three times in a row during the 1980's.