Michel Platini confirms he will run to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2014 file photo, UEFA President Michel Platini gestures during a press conference, one day prior to the UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying draw in Nice, southeastern France. Michel Platini will run for FIFA president and plans to announce his intentions this week. Two officials familiar with Platini's plans tell The Associated Press that the FIFA vice president has made a decision to try to succeed Sepp Blatter. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Platini has not announced his candidacy. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File) (The Associated Press)

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FILE - In this Friday, May 29, 2015 file photo, FIFA president Sepp Blatter after his election as President, left is greeted by UEFA President Michel Platini, right, at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland. Michel Platini will run for FIFA president and plans to announce his intentions this week. Two officials familiar with Platini's plans tell The Associated Press that the FIFA vice president has made a decision to try to succeed Sepp Blatter. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Platini has not announced his candidacy. (Patrick B. Kraemer/Keystone via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

UEFA President Michel Platini watches the preliminary draw for the 2018 soccer World Cup in Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, July 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev (The Associated Press)

NYON, Switzerland – Michel Platini says he will run in the election to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

Platini, the UEFA president and a FIFA vice president, has written to member federations in Europe saying he will stand and is counting on their support.

The FIFA election is on Feb. 26 and would-be candidates must apply by Oct. 26.

Platini has for years been the obvious candidate to succeed Blatter, his mentor in FIFA politics. But a rift between the long-time allies deepened when Blatter broke a promise to leave office in 2015.

Platini chose last year not to oppose Blatter, who won a fifth presidential term on May 29. Four days later, Blatter announced his resignation plans under pressure from American and Swiss federal investigations of corruption implicating FIFA.