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SINGAPORE — UEFA President Michel Platini might run against Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, Brazilian soccer great Pele said Thursday.
"Maybe Platini will run for that," Pele said at a breakfast organized by the American chamber of commerce in Singapore. "Platini is already president of UEFA. It's a good opportunity."
Platini and Mohamed Bin Hammam, a Qatari who leads the Asian Football Confederation, are considered the two strongest potential candidates to take on Blatter, who is seeking election to a fourth four-year term on June 1 as head of soccer's world governing body. Neither Platini nor Hammam have said they are seeking the post.
Pele said he didn't want to be FIFA president.
Blatter's leadership came under criticism after FIFA last year selected Russia to host the 2018 World Cup and Qatar for 2022.
"They say there was a little controversy about buying votes, but I wasn't there," said the 70-year-old Pele, who serves on FIFA's Football Committee with other retired stars such as Frank Beckenbauer, Bobby Charlton and George Weah.
"We won very clean for the World Cup in Brazil but this World Cup (selection) I think there was a big problem there."
Brazil will be hosting the 2014 World Cup, but Pele reiterated concerns that the building of the infrastructure for the tournament is behind schedule.
"We have a little problem with construction, communication, airports," Pele said. "We have some political problems, which makes it a little complicated to do construction. Even in Sao Paulo, they haven't started the stadium because they have a political problem. This is not good for us."
Pele was in Asia to promote the rebirth of the New York Cosmos, the team he played for in the 1970s. Pele is honorary president of the Cosmos, who plan to begin play in 2014.
