Pragmatic Platini unlikely to enter FIFA race (Reuters)

By Mike Collett LONDON (Reuters) - They play for high stakes in the casinos of Monte Carlo, but in the latest round of football politics UEFA president Michel Platini looks increasingly likely to stay away from the tables, preferring instead to bide his time before showing his hand. The Frenchman is to make a much-anticipated announcement on Thursday after deciding whether or not to stand against long-term incumbent Sepp Blatter in an election to become president of world football's governing body FIFA. Senior sources who know Platini well have told Reuters they cannot see him running, even though he was once seen as the natural successor to the current long-term FIFA president. One, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "The key point is, he is doing a good job as president of (European football's governing body) UEFA and the European associations want him to remain as president.