Michel Platini has ruled out standing for the Fifa presidency until 2015 because he has "only one tongue".
If in the unlikely event that the Football Association's initiative to gain the support of 153 other federations succeeds in delaying the Fifa presidential election – so far it has the public backing only of Scotland – succeeds, a rival candidate would be sought.
However, when the Guardian asked the Uefa president if he intends to rescue Fifa from its ongoing scandals Platini responded by saying: "Scandals? I only know what I see in the newspapers and you work for the newspapers. You know more than me.
"I have been elected Uefa president. I have four more years. Can I do two jobs? I have only one tongue."
Platini is clearly not prepared to mount a coup, and stands in line for what is likely to be an orderly transition into the role in 2015, when his Uefa mandate expires.
The three-time European footballer of the year has expressed his ambitions to that effect, saying: "Fifa is like the International Olympic Committee was some years ago. I think we are at the end of a system based on politics. I think it will finish in the next few years and we will have people from the sport. I think Fifa has to come back to football."
The Guardian understands that the 21 surviving executive-committee members of Fifa were unanimous in expressing their support for the incumbent president, Sepp Blatter, at its meeting at Fifa House yesterday.