Uefa chief Michel Platini has failed so far to give a “credible explanation” for a US$2million (Dh7.3m) payment from Fifa, the head of Germany’s football league said in an interview published on Thursday.
“Michel Platini needs to give an open and credible explanation to football fans on what it was about – and I stress: credible,” Reinhard Rauball told the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
Platini was dragged into a widening scandal at Fifa when Swiss prosecutors opened a probe last week against Fifa chief Sepp Blatter. Part of the investigation was focused on the sum of money Blatter paid to the Frenchman in 2011, apparently for consulting work done between 1998 and 2002.
Switzerland’s attorney general, Michael Lauber, has said there is evidence that the payment was “disloyal” to Fifa’s interests.
Platini, 60, has since claimed that he was paid the sum only a decade after the consulting work was done because of financial constraints at Fifa in 1998-2002. The state of the world body’s finances for the period are unclear, however.
Rauball said Platini had told Uefa members in a letter that he could not comment on the investigation, a point that the German football chief said he did not appreciate.
“As a private individual in his private, civilian sphere, he can, of course, do so if he feels that he needs to protect himself,” Rauball said.
But given that Platini is putting himself forward as a candidate for the Fifa chief job, he needs to adhere to “higher standards”.
“What Platini has revealed to us so far is simply not enough,” said Rauball, himself a lawyer.
Fifa’s worst crisis began in May when US prosecutors charged 14 football officials and sports business executives over involvement in more than $150 million of bribes.
Amid the corruption storm, Blatter announced on June 4 that he would stand down, with a special election to be held in February.
Platini had been the favourite to win that vote, but the current investigation could harm his candidacy.
Rauball also believes Blatter should leave his post now and not in February.
“I can imagine that if he stays until February he might get the idea to say: ‘Well, if no other candidate is there then I will stay on’,” he said.
“It’s about time to consider a plan B. The US justice department has classified Fifa as influenced by organised crime and corruption.”
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Tomorrow 2021
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
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Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
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Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
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Women’s Coach of the Year
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Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
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