Platini favours publishing of Garcia probe on 2018 and 2022 WC bidding process

Former French football star and now UEFA chief Michel Platini has demanded that the Garcia Investigation report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups be published so long as the FIFA Code of Ethics and regulations is respected.

CNN quoted Platini,as saying that he supported the publishing of the Garcia Report and would have no issue with the findings and recommendations of the report being made available to the public.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has stated that the report-compiled by Michael Garcia, head of the world governing body's investigative chamber of the ethics committee-will not be published because of fears over witness confidentiality.

Hans-Joachim Eckert, the head of FIFA's adjudicatory chamber of the ethics committee, is expected to reveal his decision on sanctions next year.

American lawyer Garcia is among those who have urged FIFA to publish the report, but Platini's statement of intent is the most significant yet-he is the highest profile member of the football world to oppose Blatter's position.

Fifty-nie-year-old Platini made clear his feelings about FIFA during a speech in Monaco last August where he spoke of the need for the organization to be open and accountable.