Platini, winner of 72 caps for France during his playing career, has held the role since 2007, and he has also retained his FIFA vice-presidency for a further four years.

"This means more to me than you can possibly imagine," the 59-year-old told the Congress.

"I know I can count on you, and you know that you can count on me.

"I do want to say that we love FIFA deeply, and it's precisely because we love and respect FIFA that we want it to be perfect.

"We are only demanding about the people and institutions we care about.

"Whatever the results of [the FIFA election on] May 29, that's why we are going to continue to work together."

Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill was elected as Britain's FIFA vice-president, beating off competition from Football Association of Wales President Trefor Lloyd Hughes to land the position.

The 57-year-old will succeed Nothern Ireland's Jim Boyce and he will start the role in May.

But there was controversy after Lloyd Hughes accused the English Football Association of not keeping a promise to back him to succeed Boyce.  

Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill has been elected as Britain's FIFA vice-president, taking over from Northern Ireland's Jim Boyce ©Getty Images



Platini withdrew his support for incumbent Sepp Blatter's bid to retain the FIFA Presidency last year, saying that world football's governing body needs "a breath of fresh air", before he decided against running in the race himself.

Blatter, seeking a fifth term at the helm, came under increasing criticism at the Congress about his governance of world football, particularly from challengers Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein and Royal Dutch Football Association President Michael van Praag.

Former Portuguese international Luis Figo completes the list of those vying to oust the Swiss from the role, but he declined to criticise Blatter publicly.

"We need a change of culture and a departure from FIFA's authoritarian approach to strategy," Prince Ali said.

"We are in a crucial time for football.

"Both inside and outside the football family, people have expressed concern about the way football is run.

"Imagine a rejuvenated FIFA, with its own reputation rebuilt and restored, coupled with the love of football, the only possible outcome will be explosive commercial growth far exceeding what we see now."

FIFA Presidential candidate Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein criticised Sepp Blatter's leadership of FIFA at the UEFA Congress ©Getty Images



Dutchman Van Praag meanwhile was also highly critical of the current regime at the meeting, attended by the 54 member nations of UEFA.

"The beautiful heritage of international football has been tarnished by ever continuing accusations of corruption, bribery, nepotism and waste of money," he added.

"The current state of disarray asks for a change of leadership as I simply cannot accept that we leave FIFA in its current shape for the next generation."

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