Tags
The English Football Association yesterday announced they will back Michael van Praag in the race to replace Michel Platini as UEFA president.
Van Praag, the president of the Dutch FA, is competing with Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin, after Spain’s Angel Maria Villar Llona quit the contest on Tuesday.
The 68-year-old will discover if he has won the role at next week’s extraordinary UEFA congress in Athens.
FA vice-chairman David Gill, who also serves as a UEFA executive committee member, said: “While we note Angel Maria Villar Llona’s withdrawal overnight and fully respect Aleksander Ceferin’s credentials, we have agreed to support Michael van Praag.
“He is someone we have come to know very well and worked closely with in recent years, particularly because of our shared commitment to securing FIFA reform.”
“As UEFA president, Mr Van Praag would be able to provide the strong and credible leadership European football requires at a crucial moment for the global game.”
Fighting discrimination
Noting his long service for Dutch giants Ajax and his time in charge of the Dutch FA, Gill highlighted Van Praag’s work in promoting the women’s game and fighting discrimination.
“Mr Van Praag is also the right choice to bring all aspects of the European game closer together, particularly with his knowledge of club football, and will be able to foster close ties with other confederations,” Gill said.
The FA’s support for Van Praag comes at an important as Ceferin has been gathering support from across the continent to emerge as the surprise frontrunner.
UEFA is seeking a new president after former France midfielder Platini quit in May after failing to overturn his ban from all football activities.
Platini was found guilty of ethics breaches over a payment he received from world football’s governing body FIFA.
Both Gill and former FA chairman Greg Dyke forged a close relationship with Van Praag when the 68-year-old Dutchman stood against former FIFA president Sepp Blatter last year.
Blatter won that contest, but his victory did not last long as he was soon forced to step down as FIFA’s corruption scandal spread and he is currently banned from all football activities. Now to see what happens next.
There are no comments.
SPORT Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.
TECHNOLOGY Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education
CULTURE Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions
ARABIA The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged
ARABIA Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.
ARABIA The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.
ECONOMY Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.
