Platini set for re-election at UEFA Congress

Michel PLatini will be re-elected for another four-year term as UEFA president at the UEFA Congress in Paris on Tuesday. There are 13 candidates standing for the seven other seats on the executive committee of European football's governing body.

Germany's Theo Zwanziger is hoping to replace Franz Beckenbauer who is stepping down from the ruling body after four years service. The format of the European qualifying competition for the Brazil 2014 World Cup was the top item on the agenda for the UEFA Executive Committee, which began a two-day meeting in Paris on Sunday.

Michel Platini

UEFA's 53 member associations will be competing for 13 European slots at the 2014 tournament, the allocation of berths decided by the FIFA Executive Committee earlier this month. Platini and his colleagues will also approve the regulations for the 2011/12 Champions League and Europa League and appoint the hosts of the 2012 UEFA Congress. INSIDER will be on the scene reporting from Paris on Tuesday.

Bin Hammam slammed by former AFC colleague
Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam has come under fire today from former AFC colleague and critic Peter Velappan over his decision, announced on Friday, to challenge Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency. Malaysia's Peter Velappan, the AFC's general secretary from 1978 to 2007, blasted the Qatari in an effort to undermine his campaign to oust the Swiss. "FIFA will be doomed if Hammam became the president. It would be very detrimental," Velappan told The Associated Press on Monday. Velappan criticised Bin Hammam's running of the AFC since he got the top job in 2002, saying his promise to bring democracy, transparency and integrity to FIFA was a joke. "These are the very things he has not done in AFC," he said. Velappan said he believed bin Hammam would try to "buy up" support to beat Blatter in the June 1 presidential vote.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will take a hands-on role in preparations for the Russia 2018 World Cup as chair of the supervisory board. Putin established the supervisory board of Russia 2018 organizing committee on Friday.

According to Reuters, it also includes First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, who was a key figure in the Russian bid team. Putin's oversight of World Cup preparations is similar to the one he has for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

Prince Ali meets Philippines football leaders Jordan's newly elected FIFA Vice President, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, met with officials from the Philippines Football Federation in the Filipino capital on Sunday. Blatter with the Russian PM at the 2018 World Cup host country signing ceremony in January. Putin has now decided to take a lead role in preparations

Discussions focused on football development in the Philippines and prospects of increased cooperation between the Jordan Football Association, the West Asian Football Federation and the Philippines Football Federation. “Football in the Philippines has tremendous potential and I am ready to work with you hand in hand to address the challenges you face, protect your interests and work on strengthening grassroots programs, youth and women football,” added Prince Ali.

Hayatou honoured Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou has been awarded the Wissam Al Alaoui, the rank of grand officer by Morocco at ceremony in Marrakech, in recognition of his contribution to the development of football on the continent. Hayatou said he was honored and overwhelmed to receive the honour from His majesty King Mohammed VI.