'Johansson should have declared earlier'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticised his UEFA counterpart Lennart Johansson, saying the Swede should have declared earlier that he would run for another term as the head of European soccer's governing body.

"He should have laid his cards on the table," Blatter told Swiss daily Le Matin. "It is a matter of respect."

Blatter however declared his intention to run in the race for the FIFA presidency nine years ago at a far later stage than Johansson, who had also contested the FIFA election in 1998, has done now.

As far as this month's UEFA presidency vote is concerned, Johansson had repeatedly said he would quit at the end of his term before changing his mind and officially announced his intention to run on July 11 last year.

Michel Platini, who signalled his intention to stand 18 months previously, officially announced his candidature on July 24 last year, 13 days after Johansson.

Asked if he was backing Johansson or his rival, Platini, in the race for the UEFA presidency, Blatter said: "It is not my role. Of course, there are sympathies. Let's say that I feel more like a footballer than like an executive."

The election will take place on January 26 at the UEFA congress in Duesseldorf.