SuggestedLeadIn: UEFA President Michel Platini refused to speak about his candidacy to be the next FIFA President at a press conference in Monte Carlo, Monaco (28th August), saying he had "his UEFA hat on".

Platini also tried to play down suggestions that the English Premier League's financial power was causing an imbalance in European football.

Script: SOUNDBITE: (English) Michel Platini, UEFA President:

(Q: You mentioned all the good things that UEFA have done, why would you want to leave?)

"In any case my destiny is clear in UEFA or I leave UEFA in four months (sic. six months) because you know I am a (FIFA presidential) candidate, on the 26th of October, six months here, or I leave UEFA in three years at the end of my mandate."

SOUNDBITE: (French) Michel Platini, UEFA President:

(Q: Wolfsburg have complained that it's proving difficult to turn down money from Manchester City for Kevin de Bruyne, is there an imbalance in European football, does the Premier League have too much money?)

"In terms of the relationship between the rich and the non-rich, I think football and in fact sport in general is affected by - or has been - affected by financial matters for ever. It is not just a contemporary phenomenon. And the French are a bit like the people from Wolfsburg - they say 'why haven't we got as much money as the English?' I think the Croatians are saying 'we haven't got as much money as the people from Wolfsburg'. The people in Iceland are saying 'we haven't got as much money as the Croatians.' and the people from the Faroe Islands are saying 'why haven't we got as another group of people.' So we are always looking up. English football has made exceptional investments. English football has exceptional income because it has exceptional partners because it is also well organised and English supporters, British supporters are certainly the best in the world. They fill the stadiums so the show is beautiful so the sponsors follow, television follows because the show is great. The others may not have such a good spectacle. Do excuse me if I speak well of the English, for once."