Villar withdraws from UEFA election

UEFA presidential candidate Angel Maria Villar has ended his bid to succeed Michel Platini in an election next week.

Villar says in a statement on the Spanish soccer federation website that "after a profound reflection I have decided to withdraw my bid."

The veteran FIFA and UEFA vice-president received little support ahead of the September 14 contest against Aleksander Ceferin of Slovenia and UEFA vice-president Michael van Praag of the Netherlands.

Villar says he will focus on winning re-election as president of the Spanish federation, which he has led for 28 years.

Villar, who was warned and fined by the FIFA ethics committee last year, notes he passed a FIFA integrity check last week.