Uefa to decide whether to back banned president Platini

The disclosure that no written contract for the 2million Swiss franc payment has been provided to FIFA's ethics committee - which has provisionally suspended UEFA president Platini and Blatter for 90 days pending a disciplinary hearing - has caused consternation among those who had initially backed the Frenchman.

The 54 associations who make up UEFA are meeting in Nyon, Switzerland, on Thursday to discuss the crisis.

Officials from several of the associations have all said they would not be prepared to continue to support Platini in his ambitions of running for the FIFA presidency if no written agreement exists.

That is understood to include the FA, which had remained behind Platini until news of the lack of contract emerged this week, since when its position has changed.

The Dutch FA (KNVB) has joined the Danish FA (DBU) in stating publicly that it may reconsider its backing for Platini.

Bert Van Oostveen, director of professional football of the KNVB, told Dutch broadcaster NOS: "Platini must now deliver legal and convincing evidence that he is innocent.

"If there is no logical explanation for the payment, then I think the KNVB must reconsider its support. We need to be convinced."

KNVB president Michael Van Praag, who ran as a candidate against Blatter in May before withdrawing just before the election to support Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, is keeping a close watch on the situation and may emerge as an untainted alternative to Platini.

Van Oostveen added: "I think he is a more than excellent candidate. When Van Praag fits into the picture, the KNVB will certainly think about it. First the questions around Platini should be clarified but it will certainly be discussed in the corridors."

Germany's Wolfgang Niersbach is also being touted as a possible candidate for either FIFA or UEFA presidencies should Platini receive a lengthy ban.

Niersbach told Die Zeit that Platini could struggle to overcome the case.

He said: "This case is like a backpack that could force him to his knees."

Asian football president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa from Bahrain is also actively considering now running for the FIFA presidency.

UEFA is unlikely to try to rally formal backing from the 54 associations behind Platini on Thursday but his supporters may try to gain a mandate to seek to have the FIFA presidential election postponed from February 26 - nominations are due to close on October 26.

Prince Ali of Jordan, who is standing again in the election, strongly opposes any moves to delay it.

He said in a statement: "Delaying the scheduled election would only postpone needed change and create further instability. It would tell the world that lessons haven't been learned, that the same backroom deals that have discredited FIFA in the first place continue.

"Candidates have had plenty of time to declare and still do. The rules should not be changed after the game has started."