UEFA Congress in Budapest, Orbán meets FIFA head

Budapest (MTI) – European soccer body UEFA has convened a special session of its executive committee for May 18 to discuss the question of the body’s presidency.

Speaking on the sidelines of the UEFA Congress in Budapest on Monday, German football association (DFB) President Wolfgang Niersbach said the Court of Arbitration for Sport would decide the fate of current president Michel Platini by next week at the latest.

UEFA president Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter originally both received eight-year bans from soccer-related activity for corruption, but the suspension was later reduced to six years for both men.

The executive committee finalised the selection process for the host of the 2024 European Championship. Candidate countries can start submitting their bids in September. Applications will be open until March 2017. UEFA will select the host country in September 2018.

Orbán meets FIFA head prior to UEFA congress

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán received the head of FIFA Gianni Infantino in his office on Monday evening, the prime minister’s press chief said.

Sándor Csányi, the head of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), was also present, Bertalan Havasi said.

Infantino came to Budapest to attend the 40th congress of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) starting Monday evening.

Opening the congress, Orban said that after decades of hopelessness, over the past few years Hungarians have made unprecedented efforts to bring about a revival of soccer.

“You could not have chosen a better venue for your congress because discussions about soccer, especially Hungarian soccer, are so natural in Hungary as taking a breath. There are two things in Hungary all people are experts in – soccer and politics,” the prime minister said.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters