``In my heart, I remain a footballer,'' Blatter said Friday when asked which candidate he prefers. ``I am not ashamed to speak of my fondness for Michel Platini.''

The 77-year-old Johansson, who is bidding for a fourth term that would extend his time in office to 20 years, is up against the 51-year-old Platini, a former three-time European player of the year.

The vote scheduled for Jan. 27 in Duesseldorf, Germany, and Blatter hinted it could be time for a younger man.

``It is certain that age plays a role,'' Blatter said at the French soccer federation's new headquarters. ``When you want to play competitively, there is a certain age when you can't any longer.''

Platini welcomed Blatter's comments.

``Coming from him, with his experience, it's nice to hear,'' Platini said. ``Normally, the FIFA president is neutral. He tried to get certain things across.''

Platini criticized Johansson's decision to stand for re-election after the Swede originally had said he would step aside, before changing his mind with Platini in the running.

``What surprises me is that he came back when he said he was stopping,'' Platini said. ``That shocked a lot of people. He said he was going and then he comes back against me. He's coming back to try and beat me . . . that's his problem.''

Johansson is campaigning on his experience, arguing that he has overseen the growth of UEFA's club competitions and supported the game's grass roots.

Platini's opposition to the G14 alliance of elite European clubs and his proposal to cut the number of teams from leading European national leagues entering into the Champions League may hinder his bid.

``I am not sure either of victory or defeat,'' Platini said. ``Of 52 voters, there are about 20 who I don't know at all what they will do.''

Platini's 41 international goals are a French record. The famous midfielder won every major honour as a player _ except the World Cup _ and scored more than 100 goals for Italian club Juventus.

``Johansson played football, and so did I,'' Blatter said. ``I can definitely say Platini was better than both of us put together.''

Platini promises to fight racism and help smaller clubs retain talented young players. He wants European Union laws to help curb the flow of young players to big clubs, many of whom are from Africa.

Blatter said African players had long been exploited.

``You have to give back to Africa and give justice to Africa,'' Blatter said. ``We have taken everything from there and it is now empty. Before, Africa never got the World Cup. Each time there was a European or South American contender, Africa lost.''