England backs Van Praag in UEFA presidential election

Dutch football chief Michael van Praag and Slovenian Football Association head Aleksander Ceferin remain the only contestants for the post.

David Gill, FA vice-chairman and UEFA executive committee member, said English football’s governing body had made a decision to back Van Praag after careful consideration of the candidates.

“FA vice-chairman and UEFA executive committee member David Gill said: “[Van Praag] is someone we have come to know very well and worked closely with in recent years, particularly because of our shared commitment to securing Federation Internationale de Football Association reform.

Whilst it is hard to say which of the other two contenders Villar’s supporters – how ever many of them there were – will now back, it is understood the Spanish FA itself will switch its allegiance to Van Praag in Athens next week.

“He would represent the European member associations with dignity and integrity while building on the good work UEFA has been carrying out in key areas such as promoting football for all, the growth of the women’s game and the fight against discrimination”.

The FA’s support for Van Praag comes at a critical time in the campaign as his rival Ceferin has been gathering support from across the continent to emerge as the frontrunner. The 68-year-old also ran to replace Sepp Blatter as president of Federation Internationale de Football Association last year, but withdrew a few days before the vote and instead chose to endorse Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan.

Both Blatter and Platini have been banned from all footballing activities for eight years.

Platini “will travel there by his own means and will not give a press conference” at the Congress, when the UEFA executive committee will vote on his successor, a member of his entourage told AFP.

The fact that major, influential western FAs such as Germany and France are also on board points to Ceferin seizing decisive command of the electoral stage. “He has the experience, knowledge and credibility necessary to lead UEFA”.