(ANSA-AP) - Vienna, March 24- - Michel Platini was
re-elected Tuesday as UEFA president for a third term.
The France great then pledged his love for FIFA despite
supporting all three candidates opposing Sepp Blatter in the
world governing body's own presidential election.
Platini ran unopposed to extend his reign, which started
in 2007, and was voted in by acclamation by the leaders of
UEFA's 54 member federations to serve four more years.
"This means more to me than you could possible imagine,"
Platini said in an acceptance speech in French.
Platini also retained his position as a FIFA vice
president through 2019.
Though he opted not to stand against Blatter in the FIFA
election on May 29, UEFA backs all three other candidates.
"We love FIFA deeply," Platini said, watched by Blatter
sitting at the front of the congress hall.
"It is entirely because we love and respect FIFA that we
want it to be perfect.
"We Europeans want a strong FIFA, a FIFA that is
respectable and respected," Platini added, before launching an
apparent jibe at his onetime mentor.
Platini said some people wanted to isolate UEFA as
"arrogant and selfish."
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