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In the buildup to the Champions League final, Lionel Messi and Andrea Pirlo could be overshadowed by a star of the showpiece 30 years earlier: Michel Platini.
As Barcelona and Juventus descend on Berlin to contest European soccer's annual extravaganza on Saturday, the Uefa president will be formulating the continent's fightback against Sepp Blatter's Fifa.
Platini has put Uefa on a direct collision course with Fifa in what he says is a mission to restore credibility to the sport.
Platini and Uefa led efforts to oust Blatter from power, supporting challenger Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan in Friday's election, but the 79-year-old Swiss official extended his 17-year grip on power.
It does require real leadership and Mr Platini has now got to stand up. He stood up and criticised Sepp Blatter. He has now got to lead the opposition
Greg Dyke, English FA chairman
Platini will now lead a Uefa meeting in Berlin on Friday to discuss their next move: begrudgingly put up with four more years of Blatter or seriously threaten a European exodus from Fifa.
"It does require real leadership and Mr Platini has now got to stand up," English FA chairman Greg Dyke said. "He stood up and criticised Sepp Blatter. He has now got to lead the opposition."
A World Cup boycott does not appear to be a credible threat without the weight of the game's powers behind Uefa.
"If we could get 10 large countries to do the same thing then I think you could have a big impact," Dyke said.
German federation president Wolfgang Niersbach warned that "boycotts are a bad weapon".
"I don't see that it helps us Europeans to boycott the [Fifa] executive committee," he said.
Blatter warned on Saturday of the main potential consequence of a Uefa boycott: players deserting Europe's wealthy leagues to ensure they could continue playing for national teams.
In a Swiss newspaper published on Sunday, Blatter said: "Europe couldn't even get together its own candidate."
Asian chief Prince Ali was the Uefa-backed challenger.
Daughter Corinne Blatter questioned why Platini ducked out of contesting the presidential election.
We wanted change - we did not achieve that aim. Now we as Europe must watch that we keep to a clear line and, of course, we will continue to work closely together in Uefa on this
Wolfgang Niersbach, German FA chief
"How can Uefa, who say they are the strongest confederation, not put up a candidate?" she said. "If [Platini] was serious about it he should have [stood]."
Platini's plans were derailed, though, when Blatter reneged on a 2011 pledge to step aside at the end of his four-year term.
"If he had kept his promise and recommended that his protégé Platini should be his successor, a clean transition would have been possible," Niersbach said. "We wanted change - we did not achieve that aim. Now we as Europe must watch that we keep to a clear line and, of course, we will continue to work closely together in Uefa on this."


Michel Platini and Uefa to plot response to Sepp Blatter's re-election

Uefa president Michel Platini will discuss with his federation colleagues what their next move is regarding Sepp Blatter. Photo: Reuters

Michel Platini congratulates Sepp Blatter after the latter won a fifth term as Fifa president. Photo: EPA

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Football

European federation chief must decide whether he will follow through on threat to withdraw from Fifa


Michel Platini's next move after Sepp Blatter won re-election as Fifa president will be closely watched.


Michel Platini and Uefa to plot response to Sepp Blatter's re-election

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}European federation chief must decide whether he will follow through on threat to withdraw from Fifa

European federation chief must decide whether he will follow through on threat to withdraw from Fifa