Qatar 2022: "These unfounded rumours are intended to sully my image" (Michel Platini, UEFA)

"I am no longer surprised by the spreading of unfounded rumours designed to sully my image, and during an important moment for the future of football at that. Nothing surprises me any more!" said Michel Platini, president of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) and vice-president of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), on 03/06/2014, in response to accusations from The Daily Telegraph.

According to the British newspaper, the Qatari Mohammed Bin Hammam, the former vice-president of FIFA, influenced Michel Platini to vote to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar during a secret meeting in 2010. "Of course I met with Mr. Mohammed Bin Hammam on several occasions in 2010, since we were both members of the same executive committee [that of FIFA] since 2002," Platini said.

"In these conversations with Mr. Bin Hammam, the subject of discussion was candidacy for the presidency of FIFA. In fact, Mr. Bin Hammam sought to convince me to run for the presidency of FIFA in the 2011 elections," he said. "I want to reiterate that I am the only member of the FIFA executive…