Platini announces FIFA presidency bid

(ANSA) - Rome, July 29 - French former football star Michel Platini announced Wednesday he was throwing his hat in the ring to become president of the international soccer's governing body FIFA.
    Platini decided to take the plunge after an extraordinary meeting of FIFA's executive committee held in Zurich July 20 during which Platini, currently head of UEFA, was approached by representatives of various national football federations who asked him to succeed the unfortunate Sepp Blatter.
    The elective Congress will be held in February 2016 with other candidates already announced including Brazilian legend Zico and Musa Bility, president of the Liberian Soccer Federation. Diego Maradona also is said to be considering.
    Platini's spokesman Pedro Proena said he "was impressed by the support from important representatives of the soccer world" including from Asia (AFC), North Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF), South America (CONMEBOL), as well obviously as southern Europe.
    Carlo Tavecchio, head of the FIGC, said Italy would support Platini, who shot to stardom in Juventus and the French national team in the 1980s.