Diego Maradona has trashed the idea of UEFA President Michel Platini succeeding Sepp Blatter as new FIFA president. Argentinian football legend Maradona suggests Platini is every bit as corrupt as the disgraced, outgoing Blatter.
Maradona has also suggested he'll stand by the side of another candidate come election time.
During an appearance on Naples television station PiuEnne (h/t Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via AFP and Yahoo Sports), Maradona made it clear he considers voting for Platini as merely a vote to continue the same culture of corruption that has recently defined football's governing body: "Blatter did a lot of harm to football and with Platini, it's a farce. They pretend to be separated, one at FIFA and the other at UEFA, while in fact they were always side by side."
Maradona didn't stop there. He stressed that Platini is no different than Blatter and that the Frenchman is the wrong man to introduce much needed change at the top of the sport: "If we want a transparent FIFA, we cannot vote for Platini who has been close to Blatter, who taught him how to steal."
The controversial former World Cup winner revealed he will back Prince Ali of Jordan for the presidency.
Maradona even intends to work alongside Ali should the Prince win: "If he should win the election, I will be at his side as vice-president."
Maradona's comments are sure to garner a lot of attention and generate controversy. Comments from the 54-year-old usually do.
But his words have reinforced the idea that people expect real change from FIFA's next president. As a symbol of the old hierarchy, albeit at the European level, Platini risks being tarred with the same brush as Blatter—fair or not.
Then again, the idea of Maradona in the big chair or even in close proximity might be just as concerning.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2567020-diego-maradona-blasts-sepp-blatter-and-michel-platini-reveals-prince-ali-plan
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