Dyke: Platini must show leadership
Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has called on UEFA president Michel Platini to stand up to FIFA boss Sepp Blatter in the wake of the corruption allegations engulfing the world governing body.
Blatter won a fifth term as president on Friday despite widespread calls for him to step down after seven FIFA officials were arrested and 18 people connected to football were indicted on corruption charges by the US justice department.
Blatter saw off the challenge from Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan and was installed as head of FIFA for another four years when his rival withdrew ahead of the second round of voting.
Before the vote Platini made a personal appeal to Blatter to quit and even suggested European teams could boycott the World Cup if he remained in charge.
Dyke now wants the Frenchman to lead coordinated action of those in opposition to the 79-year-old leader.
“It does require real leadership and Mr Platini has now got to stand up. He stood up and criticised Sepp Blatter, he’s now got to lead the opposition,” Dyke told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme.
He added: “There would certainly be us, there would certainly be the Dutch, there would certainly be the Germans who have been demanding change and would demand change.
“They would only take serious action if there’s enough (opposition willing to act) because otherwise it’s pointless.”
Dyke said England should not go it alone and stage a one-nation World Cup boycott.
He said: “There’s absolutely no point England saying, ’We’re not going to take part (in the World Cup), we’re going to boycott it’, because our fans and players would not thank us for it and it would have no impact.
“If we could get 10 large countries to do the same thing then I think you could have a big impact.”
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