Blatter remarks anger Johansson
The race is on for the biggest job in European football
Michel Platini (left) and Lennart Johansson are both vying for Europe's top football administration job
Uefa president Lennart Johansson is angry his attempts to gain re-election to his post have been undermined by Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
Blatter has endorsed the campaign of Johansson's rival Michel Platini ahead of the vote on Friday.
"I think he's wheeling and dealing, going right and then left, having one opinion on Monday and then another on Tuesday," said 77-year-old Johansson.
"That's not friendship, that's far away from it. I don't follow his ways."
For the first time since he was elected at the Congress in Malta 16 years ago, beating Freddy Rumo of Switzerland by 20 votes to 15, Johansson is facing a serious threat to his position.
He does not feel Blatter should have made his remarks while his Fifa counterpart has defended his right to have his say.
Blatter said: "As a Fifa president I have nothing to say about this election but if you ask me about my personal feelings I don't have to hide them.
"I have a clear sympathy to a man who has accompanied me for eight-and-a-half years as Fifa president in most of my business travel."
"Since 1998 Platini has been my personal adviser and he is my friend. He has my sympathy but it is not a direct intervention."
He added: "They may criticise that but I said what I think. I have to say to the associations what I am thinking.
"I cannot be the referee, I cannot be the judge, but I have the right to say I have sympathy for the man who has been with me through the turmoils of the last eight years."
Platini, 51, described Blatter's intervention as "an excellent intervention".
The Frenchman's manifesto includes maximising the number of teams a country can have competing in the Champions League to three.
Johansson does not agree with this issue and also believes his rivals needs more experience.
He said: "I don't want to be impolite to a colleague on the executive committee. I've already asked him why he wants to introduce changes to this success story?
"The Champions League is covered by numerous television stations around the world and there are a lot of sports that are trying to copy it."
He added: "The future is his but he has to learn and gain in experience."
The 52 members who now comprise the European confederation, the richest and most influential in world football, will decide on the outcome in a secret ballot.
LENNART JOHANSSON
Lennart Johansson
Age: 77
Nationality: Swedish
Background: President of Uefa and vice president of Fifa
Pledges: Keen to keep the present Champions League format, in favour of salary caps and the reduction of the number of foreign players in a side to three and increasing the number of teams in the European Championships
MICHEL PLATINI
Michel Platini
Age: 51
Nationality: French
Background: Legendary player for France, a member of Uefa and Fifa's Executive Committees. Chairman of the Fifa Technical and Development Committee and vice-president of French Football Federation
Pledges: Limit the number of Champions League places for a country to three, four linesman in a game and against video help for referees
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