Blatter: Platini said I risked jail

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has alleged that his Uefa counterpart Michel Platini warned him of a possible prison sentence if he did not stand down from the world football governing body's presidential race.

Michel Platini, president of the Union of European Football Associations AFP

Blatter told Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant that the warning was made to the Swiss official's brother.

But a source close to Platini, contacted by the AFP news agency, described the claim as "ridiculous".

Blatter said he found his 80-year-old brother, Peter, crying at May's Fifa congress in Zurich, where the 79-year-old Blatter was re-elected for a fifth time before later indicating that he will step down, allowing a fresh election.

"During lunch, Platini had sat down at my brother's table and said: 'Tell Sepp to withdraw from the election or he will go to prison'," said Blatter.

Blatter claimed the exchange happened before the election but his brother only told him about it afterwards.

"This complete fabrication is the latest in a series of attempts from Zurich to distract everyone from the problems Fifa is confronted with," a source close to Platini told AFP.

"The Uefa president will not dignify these ridiculous allegations with a response."

Blatter continued his claims by saying that he felt betrayed by Platini, 60, who is the favourite to succeed the Swiss in February's new poll.

"You know, there was a time when our relationship was like that of a father and his son," said Blatter.

"He worked for me for four years at Fifa, after the 1998 World Cup in France. Together we prepared his board memberships of both Uefa and Fifa. In 2007, he also became president of Uefa, with my direct support."

Frenchman Platini confirmed last month that he will stand for the Fifa presidency and has already received public support from many members of world football's governing body. The election will take place in February next year.