French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says he has every confidence in UEFA president Michel Platini who has been questioned as a witness in a payment made to him by FIFA president Joseph Blatter.
The Swiss attorney general's office asked former France international Platini "to provide information" concerning the payment of 2 million Swiss francs (2.04 million dollars) in 2011.
Valls told France Info radio late Friday it was now up to judicial authorities to carry out their work.
"But we are fortunate in having Michel Platini, who was a great sportsman and is now a great leader at the head of UEFA. I have complete confidence in him," he said.
The Swiss attorney general's office Friday opened criminal proceedings against Blatter. In a statement it said Blatter was suspected of the payment to Platini "allegedly made for work performed between January 1999 and June 2002." The payment "was executed in February 2011."
Platini on Friday said the payment was made for work he carried out for FIFA under contract.
"Regarding the payment that was made to me, I wish to state that this amount relates to work which I carried out under a contract with FIFA and I was pleased to have been able to clarify all matters relating to this with the authorities," he said.
He added: "I have always been open to supporting the relevant bodies and authorities in their investigative work and therefore cooperated fully."
Platini was being seen as a favourite to succeed Blatter, who steps down at an extraordinary FIFA congress in Zurich on February 26. He is one of three candidates who have so far put themselves forward.
