Former France captain and manager Michel Platini plans to run for the presidency of the sport's European governing body, UEFA.

Former France captain Michel Platini announced he would bid for the presidency of European football's governing body UEFA at the next elections in 2006.[AFP]

The 49-year-old, who led France to consecutive World Cup semi-finals in 1982 and 1986, said if he was elected he would put a smile back on the face of a sport he fears is becoming ruled by big business.

"I've sent a letter announcing my intention to the president of UEFA," he told reporters during a lunch on Tuesday. "There are many turbulences in the world of soccer and I want to do something about it."

The current president of UEFA is Lennart Johansson, but the Swede has already said he would not run for election again.

Platini, who was voted European Footballer of the Year three times, won the 1984 European Championships with France and helped Juventus win three Italian titles and the European Cup, said his passion for the game is the reason he is running.

"I want soccer to be something other than what it is today," he said. "I want to prevent the most beautiful game from becoming only business."

"I don't need the notoriety, I have it already. And I don't do this for money, because if I am elected, I will earn less money than today."

Platini, who scored a record 41 goals for France in 71 appearances, still commands huge respect in the game and has not been afraid to voice his displeasure at aspects of modern football in various administrative roles he has held since hanging up his boots in 1987.

He believes that the grassroots of the game must be protected, while the "win at all costs mentality" has to change.

"We have to fight for the youth academies," he said. "It is unacceptable that a player leaves for a foreign country without having played for the club he has been formed at. We have to address this problem."

Platini criticised the treatment of Swedish referee Anders Frisk, who retired last week after receiving death threats.

"What has happened to Anders Frisk should not be tolerated," he said. "You know what fair play is? It is being able to lose with a smile on your face. Nowadays, it is like you are not allowed to lose."

"Soccer can generate business, but business must not besiege soccer," he added. "Big clubs just want to play between them to make more money. A club like Ajax Amsterdam cannot win the Champions League anymore."

Platini said the current make-up of the Champions League also needs looking at.

"Of course, I don't think we would have 256 clubs in a knockout system from the start, but it should move towards that," he said.

Platini's career since retiring from playing includes a spell as the national manager when France were unbeaten from April 1989 to February 1992.

However he stepped down after the failure at the 1992 European Championships in Sweden.

He was also the co-president of the French Organising Committee for the 1998 World Cup and vice-president of the French Football Federation.

(soccernet.espn.go.com)

Editor: Donald