Uefa boss Michel Platini is to stand as a candidate for the presidency of world football's governing body, Fifa, Uefa announced on Wednesday.
The announcement ends weeks of speculation over whether the 60-year-old Frenchman would stand in the election to find a successor to the beleaguered Sepp Blatter.
Blatter decided to stand down shortly after being re-elected as president in June with scandal-hit Fifa's reputation in tatters. He announced last week that the election for his successor would be held on February 26, 2016.
Platini officially announced his candidature in a letter to the presidents and general secretaries of the 209 Fifa member countries, and made public by Uefa.
"This was a very personal, carefully considered decision, one in which I weighed up the future of football alongside my own future," he said.
"I was also guided by the esteem, support and encouragement that many of you have shown me."
"There are times in life when you have to take your destiny into your own hands," he said.
"I am at one of those decisive moments, at a juncture in my life and in events that are shaping the future of Fifa."
He added: "During this last half-century or so, Fifa has only had two presidents. This extreme stability is something of a paradox in a world that has experienced radical upheavals and in a sport that has undergone considerable economic change.
"However, recent events force the supreme governing body of world football to turn over a new leaf and rethink its governance."
"I am counting on your support and our common love of football so that, together, we can give the tens of millions of football fans the FIFA that they want: a FIFA that is exemplary, united and shows solidarity, a FIFA that is respected, liked and of the people."
Platini has since emerged as one of the most likely names to run in the election and has the verbal support of four of the six confederations that make up Fifa, with the strongly pro-Blatter Confederation of African Football and that of Oceania the only exceptions.
None of those who have so far come forward appear as credible a candidate as Platini, who has been in charge of Uefa since 2007.
Candidates have until October 26 exactly four months before the vote -- to come forward. They must have the confirmed backing of at least five of Fifa's 209 member nations, and be cleared by the world governing body's ethics committee, to be able to stand.
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