Michel Platini is refusing to back incumbent Sepp Blatter or challenger Jerome Champagne in next year’s FIFA presidential election.
The former France captain said it was time for Blatter, who is running for a fifth consecutive term after being first elected in 1998, to leave the stage.
“I supported him in 1998 but now it is time to let some fresh air in and leave the place to someone else,” the Frenchman said.
Asked who he would back, Platini said none of the two candidates had his preference.
“Neither... I hope others will run,” he added, explaining that a candidate from another continent would stand a better chance of usurping Blatter.
Gunners stars don charity jumpers
Arsenal have thrown their support behind Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day, with several of their star players posing in festive knitwear.
Players including Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs donned Arsenal’s snowman-themed jumper, while Arsenal Ladies players including Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankey and Danielle Carter were also in-volved.
Sanchez also posed in an oversized Christmas pudding design in the club’s home colours.
Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day takes place this Friday, encouraging people to wear Christmas jumpers and donate £2 to the charity.
Hoeness can make a difference – Lahm
Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has tipped Uli Hoeness to improve the club’s youth development system when he starts work back at the club in January.
Hoeness is currently in jail after being found guilty of tax evasion, but he is to be granted day release in the new year. Bayern have offered Hoeness a job in their youth department and Lahm says he thinks the 62-year-old will really make a difference.
Lahm said: “I think he can make a lot of improvements in our youth system. He has so much experience... he made the club as big as it is now.”
Ancelotti hopeful
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti does not expect injured winger James Rodriguez to recover in time for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Rodriguez got hurt during Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Celta Vigo and tests done by his club revealed Rodriguez has a grade one muscular injury in his right calf.
Real have not given an indication of the player’s recovery period but the Colombian international is expected to be ruled out until the new year.
When asked if Rodriguez will be fit for the Club World Cup next week Ancelotti said: “It’s difficult to recover from a calf injury.”
Cesena appoint Di Carlo as coach
Serie A strugglers Cesena have appointed Domenico Di Carlo as their new coach following the sacking of Pierpaolo Bisoli.
The Emilia-Romagna outfit showed Bisoli the door on Monday following Cesena’s 3-2 defeat away to Atalanta at the weekend, their eighth loss of the campaign.
Cesena have not won since the opening league game of the season on August 31 and lie second-bottom in the standings.
The 50-year-old Di Carlo had been out of a job since being dismissed by Livorno in April.
His first game in charge will be at home to Fiorentina on Sunday.
Brazilian Pele leaves hospital
A cheerful Pele left hospital yesterday after a month of treatment for kidney stones and a urinary tract infection, joking that he was fit again and preparing for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The 74-year old former Santos and Brazil striker spent several days in intensive care but said he was not afraid of dying thanks to his home town of Three Hearts.
“I got the chills but I’ve felt that before and I was not to know it was an infection,” he said of the moment a few weeks ago when he was taken to hospital.
“I was worried. But I can’t say I was afraid of dying because I am a man of Three Hearts.
“Rest assured, I am already preparing for the Olympics,” he joked at a news conference shortly before leaving the hospital.
Manchester United shares up for sale
Edward Glazer, one of Malcolm Glazer’s six children, has put three million shares in Manchester United up for sale, little more than six months after his father’s death, and stands to recoup in the region of $45m (£28.7m).
Malcolm Glazer took ownership of United in May 2005, but his death in May this year saw his children take an equal split of shares.
A statement released by the Premier League club and the New York Stock Exchange – where 10 per cent of United’s shares are listed – announced the offer of “Class A Ordinary Shares”.
It means Edward Glazer, who serves as co-chairman of Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is co-president of the Glazer Family Foundation, is to receive a windfall from the sale, which could be concluded this week.