UEFA President Michel Platini has been re-elected for a second four-year term at the XXXV Ordinary UEFA Congress in Paris. Mr Platini, who was the only candidate, was re-elected by acclamation by delegates from UEFA's 53 member national associations.

The Frenchman had been elected as UEFA President at the XXXI Ordinary UEFA Congress in Dusseldorf in January 2007. "After my election four years ago, my thanks were reserved above all for old friends," Mr Platini said.

"Filled with emotion and a sense of nostalgia, I thanked all those who had been by my side during the various stages of my life. Today, my thanks are instead directed at new friends, those who are by my side now. First of all, I thank you, my friends at the national associations. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your confidence in me."

Mr Platini also had warm words of gratitude for the UEFA Executive Committee and the UEFA administration, and notably for "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."

As another season reaches its climax, Mr Platini also thanked the players whom he described as "a source of wonder and delight, joy and emotion for us all, without whom there would be no football".

Elections also took place for membership of the UEFA Executive Committee. The Congress elected seven members of the UEFA Executive Committee and two members of the FIFA Executive Committee – one vice-president and one member. The voting result was as follows:

UEFA Executive Committee
Elected following a first ballot:
Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain) 47 votes
Şenes Erzik (Turkey) 42 votes
Peter Gilliéron (Switzerland) 40 votes
Grygoriy Surkis (Ukraine) 38 votes
Borislav Mihailov (Bulgaria) 28 votes
Sergey Fursenko (Russia) 27 votes

Elected following a second ballot:
Mircea Sandu (Romania) 15 votes

FIFA Executive Committee
Candidate for FIFA Executive Committee vice-presidency:
*UEFA President Michel Platini is an ex-officio FIFA vice-president.
Elected: Ángel María Villar Llona (Spain)

Candidate for FIFA Executive Committee:
Elected: Dr Theo Zwanziger (Germany)

In addition, honorary UEFA membership was awarded at the Paris Congress to Antonio Matarrese (Italy) and Dr Joseph Mifsud (Malta) for their long and meritorious service to European football.

UEFA Orders of Merit in Ruby were bestowed upon Jean-Pierre Escalettes (France), Ellert Schram (Iceland) and Ralph Zloczower (Switzerland). The UEFA Order of Merit in Emerald was awarded posthumously to Ján Popluhár (Slovakia). A special award was also presented to Franz Beckenbauer (Germany) for his years of service to football as player, coach and administrator.

The XXXVI Ordinary UEFA Congress will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, on 22 March{jcomments on}