UEFA names new general secretary, holds back decision on Michel Platini

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, 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 on 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.