Platini re-elected UEFA president for 3rd term

(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."