Blatter clinging to power because he fears life of ‘emptiness’‘If he really loves Fifa, he should have put its interests ahead of his own’

Michel Platini has accused Sepp Blatter of clinging on to power at all costs, claiming the Fifa president is standing for a fifth term on the basis of “a lie”.

Blatter, who will stand against the Jordanian Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in Friday’s election, told Uefa’s Congress in 2011 he would step down at the end of his current term. He has since changed his mind, saying his mission remains unfinished despite a barrage of criticism over corruption allegations.

Platini, the Uefa president, claimed the 79-year-old was standing because he feared for his future outside Fifa and it was “not credible” to claim otherwise.

“He is simply scared of the future because he has given his life to the institution to the point where he now identifies himself fully with Fifa,” Platini told L’Equipe. “I understand the fear of that emptiness he must have – it’s natural – but if he really loves Fifa, he should have put its interests ahead of his own.’’

Platini helped Blatter win his first term as president in 1998 and was once seen as his heir apparent, also backing him in subsequent campaigns. After Blatter made clear he planned to stand for a fifth term the pair have become increasingly estranged and the Frenchman has repeatedly called for change.

“Above all, I am disappointed for the European associations I asked to support Sepp in 2011, on the basis of a promise Sepp had made in person. It was more than a promise; it was a real commitment,” Platini said.

“He looked us in the eye and asked us to support him in what would be his last term in office. And now here we are again, as if none of it had ever happened. I am perhaps too naive, too sensitive or too idealistic, but I have the uncomfortable feeling I gave a personal undertaking on the basis of a lie – and so, indirectly and unknowingly, I lied to my member associations. That is what disappoints me, nothing else.”

Platini declined to challenge Blatter but backed three rival candidates in Prince Ali, the Dutch FA president, Michael van Praag and the former world player of the year Luís Figo. Van Praag and Figo dropped out last week, criticising Blatter’s strategy of closing down debate on the future, while seeking to coalesce support around Prince Ali.

Platini, who prevaricated over whether to take on Blatter, said he had nothing against Blatter personally but the time had come for him to stand down. Many of Uefa’s member nations are expected to follow Platini’s lead but Blatter retains strong support among the other five continental confederations.

“While he remains in place, whether he likes it or not, and whether it is fair or not, Fifa will lack credibility and its image will be tarnished, and so it will lack authority,” Platini said. “Moreover, it will be football that suffers.”

He formally backed Prince Ali, who on Monday released a video appealing to the 209 associations who have a vote for the top job in world football.

“I have said on numerous occasions that Fifa needs a new leader, it needs fresh blood and a breath of fresh air,” Platini said. “I simply believe that there comes a time when you have to hand over the reins instead of trying to cling on to power at all costs.”

Blatter, who over the weekend compared himself to a mountain goat who “cannot be stopped” and “just keeps going”, is widely expected to win Friday’s election despite having spent much of the past four years dealing with the fallout from the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding races and questions over corruption and transparency.