Blatter's day.

Day -915. WorldCup2018.

Today was the day of the Sepp Blatter show, the man who in his own words will go down fighting, the man who looked like a 79 year old leader of some fringe, ridiculed political group turning up at a press conference attended by many for the entertainment value, and accompanied by his daughter ready to whisk him away if he gets too embarrassing. He did not look like one of the most powerful men in the world, not just the football world, who through his confidence and swagger up until a few months ago belied his age. His story is not over. There will be an appeal, there will be more press conferences, more denials, revelations and allegations. The only surprise will be if he decides to let it all go and slip away quietly.

Today's events reinforced my belief, and reportedly of many, that the changes needed at Fifa go way, way beyond the election of a new president and fancy manifestos using the magic word: reform. Rebuild. Start again, with new faces. That's the true reform.

The case against Platini is interesting and maybe a little sad for his supporters. Was he guilty because he was ignorant enough to allow himself to be associated, very closely, with Blatter? Or was it just one ignorant moment when he made that verbal agreement with Blatter. Over the last couple of years when Platini was strongly opposed (and very vocal about it) to Blatter carrying on as Fifa President, maybe we should believe that he was being truthful. His association with Blatter may have been over.

The conspiracy theorists may argue that he was pre-empting what was coming, that he knew the world would soon know about the "disloyal payment", and this was his way of distancing himself from Blatter. But, maybe just maybe, Platini was showing himself to be a good man, who truly beloved that football needed to get rid of men like Blatter. And maybe he deeply regretted his moment of weakness.

Maybe this is the defence of Platini born out of memories of Michel Platini, the 1980's footballer. Until we know the facts of the Ethics Committee's case against him, the memories may make for a strong defence. But only maybe.