Prince Ali bin Al Hussein said on Wednesday that he thought Michel Platini, who confirmed he will run for Fifa president next year, is “not good for football and football’s fans and players deserve betterâ€.
The Jordanian prince, who was beaten to the post at the head of world football’s governing body by long-standing chief Sepp Blatter in May, turned on the Frenchman and said Platini, who is seen as a strong candidate, is not the man to run the sport’s global affairs.
“Platini is not good for Fifa. Football’s fans and players deserve better,†he said in a statement.
“Fifa is engulfed in scandal. We must stop doing business as usual. The practice of back-room, under-the-table deals must end.
“I believe that the voices of the individual Football Federations must be heard. In the coming week, I will be consulting with them about what is in the best interests of football.
“What is clear is that Fifa needs new, independent leadership, untainted by the practices of the past,†added Prince Ali.