Blatter was re-elected as FIFA president in June and promised to step down from world football’s governing body at the end of his term in office. However, ESPNsoccernet, citing “well placed international sources”, reported that Blatter is seriously considering quitting in two years to allow UEFA president Platini to take his place.
A source reportedly told ESPNsoccernet: “There is now widespread conjecture within the European game that Blatter won't be able to survive for the full four-year term, which is already designated his last term before handing over to Platini. The suggestion is that some sort of deal is being mooted whereby Blatter goes in two years and Platini takes over. With so much focus on the governance of FIFA, and so many changes being proposed, it would make sense for this change to happen and it would be widely welcomed.”
However, the report prompted Blatter to take to his Twitter account on Wednesday, with the 65-year-old Swiss denying there was any substance to the story. “The existence of a reported 'deal' between me and Michel Platini for the FIFA presidency is pure nonsense,” said Blatter. “The suggestion that I intend to stop my four-year mandate before its end is simply ridiculous.”
In other news, FIFA has announced Walter De Gregorio as its director of communications and public affairs. Nicolas Maingot, who had been acting director, will be his deputy. Over the past 20 years De Gregorio has worked as a journalist, a columnist, and in management positions for various national and international newspapers. He will begin work on October 1.
