Greek Theodore Theodoridis looks on during a press conference at the UEFA headquarters on March 4, 2016 in Nyon. Uefa on Friday named Theodoridis as the new general secretary of the European football confederation after Gianni Infantino left to become head of Fifa. PHOTO AFP
NYON, March 4 – UEFA on Friday named Theodore Theodoridis as interim general secretary but insisted no decision on whether to replace Michel Platini as president would be taken until his appeals are finished.
Greek administrator Theodoridis moves up from deputy secretary general in place of Gianni Infantino who was elected as president of world body FIFA on Friday.
But with world football stuck in a corruption turmoil, Theodoridis cannot take over the key post at the most powerful continental confederation until Platini’s future is decided.
The French football legend is currently hit by a six year ban over a suspect $2 million payment from former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter and so cannot take any UEFA decisions.
But if he wins an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Platini could return to decide who he wants as his right-hand man.
Germany’s federation chief this week called on Platini to resign. But the UEFA executive decided at its meeting Friday to keep faith with the Frenchman.
“The UEFA executive Committee reconfirmed its decision of January that no UEFA presidential elections will be scheduled until a decision has been made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Michel Platini’s appeal,” said a statement.
Theodoridis told a press conference the committee had decided “unanimously” to wait for the CAS verdict.
Platini made a formal appeal to CAS, which is based in Lausanne, this week.
The tribunal has said it is aiming to have a verdict before the European Championships start in France on June 10.
Platini, who has denied any wrongdoing over the payment, is desperate to keep his post at UEFA and be at the tournament in his home country.
Theodoridis, 50, joined UEFA in 2008 and has been in charge of relations with the European national associations.
If Platini is forced to leave UEFA, the next president could choose a different general secretary.
