Bahrain Football Association President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, center, arrives at the 23rd AFC Congress Gala Dinner at a hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday, May 7, 2009. Top members of Asia's main football association made a last-ditch attempt Thursday to resolve a bitter election dispute that is threatening to break up the organization. The executive committee of the 46-nation Asian Football Federation held an emergency meeting to decide if five member countries have the right to vote in an election to choose Asia's representative in FIFA's executive committee. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)
One of Michel Platini’s main backers in his bid to head football’s governing body, Bahraini Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, might stand himself if a Swiss investigation hampers the Frenchman’s candidacy, two sources have told Reuters.
Sheikh Salman, head of the Asian Football Confederation, had given a ringing endorsement to the European soccer chief as the man to lead FIFA out of a graft scandal that broke in May and has grown to the worst in its 111-year history.
But on Friday, Platini himself became embroiled in a Swiss inquiry into a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.05 million) payment in 2011 from veteran FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who was placed under investigation for criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of funds.
Media reports in Qatar have suggested Salman might run in the February vote in Zurich if Platini dropped his bid.
Sheikh Salman is closely allied with Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, one of the most powerful men in international sports politics.
Sheikh Salman’s office was not available for comment at the time of publication.
