Platini to remain UEFA President until 2015

LONDON - Former France midfielder Michel Platini is set to be re-elected as UEFA President for another four years after being confirmed as the only candidate in next year’s election.

According to a UEFA statement, no rivals submitted their candidacy by Wednesday’s deadline.

The 55-year-old will be formally re-elected at the UEFA Congress in Paris on March 22.

“The regulations governing the implementation of the UEFA Statutes stipulate that candidates for the position of president of UEFA must be proposed in writing to the UEFA Administration at least three months before the date set for the opening of the Congress,” the Telegraph quoted the statement, as saying.

“The cut-off deadline of December 22, 2010 has passed for submissions of candidacy for the position of UEFA President. As of December 23, 2010, only one candidate has been announced: current UEFA President Michel Platini will be seeking a second four-year term of office from 2011 to 2015,” it added.

Platini had ousted longtime incumbent Lennart Johansson in a tight vote in January 2007.

Johansson, who held the post for 16 years, was defeated by 27 votes to 23. (ANI)