FIFA to hold presidential election in February

UEFA sources said on Monday that four out of the world's six continental confederations would support Michel Platini if he made a bid for FIFA's presidency. A source close to the 60-year-old French former midfielder said that he would decide witin the next two weeks whether or not to run on February 26 next year.

"Platini knows that the decision must be taken quickly to close the door against any other challenger," the source said on Monday.

Following the reports of his potential candidacy, Platini was the bookmakers favorite in Britain on Monday, quoted at odds of 5-4 by William Hill, ahead of Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein at 7-4 - who was Blatter's challenger in June's vote. Platini passed on the opportunity to run in this year's ballot, opting instead to claim another term at the head of UEFA in an unopposed vote.

The unexpected election is the upshot of Blatter's announcement, days after his re-election to a fifth term as FIFA president, that he would step down from the role. This followed further corruption allegations against FIFA and several arrests at the organization's Zurich headquarters days before the vote.

Mounting pressure over corruption

The 79-year-old Blatter was said to favor a later date for the vote, allowing him more time to put reforms into motion before leaving office. However, the Swiss functionary has also hinted recently at a willingness to run again for the presidency if he's asked to.

Pressure is mounting on FIFA to introduce reforms, in light of the organization's deepening corruption crisis.

On May 27, several FIFA officials with arrested in connection to the scandal. At a meeting of the president's group a day after the arrests, Platini urged Blatter - his ally-turned-adversary - to resign.

Blatter refused to leave and was re-elected the next day. Within days, however, he announced his resignation at an extraordinary meeting of FIFA's executive committee, now set for February in Zurich.

ksb/msh (AP, AFP, dpa)