Adidas CEO believes Platini best choice for FIFA presidentJuly 10, 2015 - 13:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The chief executive of Adidas, a major FIFA sponsor, says he thinks UEFA President Michel Platini would be the best choice of successor to Sepp Blatter at the head of world football's governing body, the Associated Press reports. Herbert Hainer was quoted Friday, July 10, as telling German weekly Focus: "For me, Platini is the most suitable candidate." He added: "He leads UEFA, with the best club teams worldwide and the strongest club competition, the Champions League. He has done a really good job in his two terms in office." Hainer says that German football federation chief Wolfgang Niersbach would be "the ideal UEFA president" if Platini wins the FIFA leadership. Former France captain Platini hasn't yet said whether he will look to succeed Blatter in the FIFA presidential election expected in a few months. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. |