Blatter support prompts row

The race to become the most powerful man in European football exploded into controversy on Thursday - the eve of the UEFA presidential election.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter infuriated UEFA's current incumbent Lennart Johansson by publicly declaring his support for challenger Michel Platini, who is viewed as the favourite to win. The pair are going head to head on Friday but in a speech at the opening of the UEFA Congress in Dusseldorf, Germany, the FIFA president made no secret of his choice.

Blatter said: "Both contenders for the presidency have asked me whether they should run as candidates and I have answered yes to both. But I have the right to say - and this is nothing negative and does by no means reduce the merits of Lennart Johansson - that I do have a sympathy for the man who has been accompanying me since 1998, Michel Platini."

It provoked a furious reaction from Johansson and his supporters claim there could now be a backlash against Platini.

Johansson said of Blatter: "I think he's wheeling and dealing, going right and then left, having one opinion on Monday and then another on Tuesday.

"That's not friendship, that's far away from it. I don't follow his ways, I don't get it."

Johansson added he thought UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson would resign if Platini won.

Blatter defended his right to express his opinion to the national associations but accepted he had upset the Johansson camp.

The FIFA president said: "They may criticise that but I said what I think. I have to say to the associations what I am thinking.

"I cannot be the referee, I cannot be the judge, but I have the right to say I have sympathy for the man who has been with me through the turmoils of the last eight years."