Michel Platini re-elected with pledge to control clubs' spending

UEFA president Michel Platini was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term yesterday, pledging to continue his efforts to bring club spending under control and fight match-fixing and crowd violence.

The former France captain, in a speech earlier in the day, also promised to make international football a priority and to keep the Champions League open to clubs from the smaller of Europe's 53 associations.

The Frenchman, who has been in charge of European soccer's governing body since 2007, was voted in at the Uefa Congress, where he was given a standing ovation. The 55-year-old former Nancy, St Etienne and Juventus player, the only candidate to register before the deadline on 16 December, was visibly moved by the reception.

"I thought I was old enough not to get so emotional," he said. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your confidence in me."

He also thanked "the thousands of grassroots coaches and volunteers all over Europe who devote themselves out of passion and their love of football. They impart values to our children and grandchildren, guide them through the most wonderful school of life and help, in their way, to make our society a little better," he said.

Platini has pledged to implement his so-called Financial Fair Play policy which is aimed at making clubs live within their means. Those who do not comply could be barred from European competition from 2014/15. "Financial fair play is a crucial project that will enable us to clean up certain practices within our game," said Platini, who also sits on Fifa's executive committee. "There is a huge amount of money in football, but more importantly there is a moral problem in the way this money is sometimes generated and used."

Meanwhile Uefa are taking control of selling broadcast rights for qualifying matches to major tournaments to help national federations raise more money. Platini says the body has reached a deal with all 53 European football nations.

National federations currently sell rights to their own home matches and pocket the revenue. Platini says the new deal will give countries guaranteed income to prevent them losing out if they are drawn to play less glamorous opponents in qualifying groups.

Platini says Uefa has a "duty" to restore the status of national team competitions. "It is a project aimed, above all, at protecting and developing national team football," he said.

"The knock-on effect will be guaranteed revenue for each association."

Uefa will begin selling rights to qualifiers for the 2016 European Championship and 2018 World Cup.