VIENNA — Michel Platini was re-elected by acclamation as UEFA president for a third term Tuesday and immediately told Congress delegates not to believe everything they heard about the confederation's relationship with FIFA. The former France international, who has been president since 2007, was handed another four-year term by delegates of the 54-member nations after standing unopposed. UEFA and FIFA have been at loggerheads for years and European soccer's ruling body is supporting the three candidates standing against incumbent Sepp Blatter in the FIFA presidential elections in May. Platini, whose re-election means he continues as a FIFA vice president for the next four years, said: “Europe's entire football community loves FIFA dearly. “It is precisely because we love and respect it that we want it to be perfect,” said the 59-year-old. “Similarly we are always ready and willing to strengthen and coordinate development programs. It seems we will be working together for another few years so I want to tell you something ... do not believe everything you hear,” added Platini. “We Europeans want a strong FIFA, a FIFA that is respectable and respected, since FIFA is and always will be football's supreme authority, the sport's ultimate governing body. “Yes, we know we are in a privileged position. Yes, we know we make mistakes and are not necessarily any better than anyone else.” Looking at Blatter sitting in the front row, Platini said: “However, you should know we are willing to work with you, hand in hand, for the good of world football, for the good of the 209 national associations worldwide and for the good of FIFA.” Platini earlier warned that nationalism and hooliganism is threatening European football. “We need tougher stadium bans at European level and, I will say it again, the creation of a European sports police force,” he said. Blatter appealed to his biggest critics to show unity and solidarity ahead of an election in which he faces an unprecedented challenge to his rule. Blatter refused to appear with the three rivals challenging him for the leadership of football's governing body at UEFA's annual congress but made his plea in a speech at the start of the meeting. He called on the presidents of the European, Asian, North American and South American confederations, who were at the meeting, to show the “unity and this solidarity which exists as the foundations of football.” Blatter also renewed his condemnation of appeals for a boycott of the 2018 World Cup in Russia over the Ukraine conflict. “Boycott has never given any results,” he said. UEFA, meanwhile, expects a bumper revenue of 4.6 billion euros ($5.05 billion) for 2015-2016 when the European Championships in France will more than double revenues from the Champions League, a top official said Tuesday. The European governing body's finance director Josef Koller told the UEFA congress the figure would be 66% higher than for 2011-12 when the last European Championships were held in Poland and Ukraine. The championship will be increased from 16 to 24 teams in 2016 which automatically increases sales, Koller said. — Agencies
