UEFA President Michel Platini was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term yesterday, pledging to continue his efforts to bring club spending under control.

The former France captain also promised to make international football a priority and to keep the Champions League open to clubs from the smaller of Europe's 53 associations.

Platini, who has been in charge of European soccer's governing body since 2007, was voted in at the UEFA Congress, where he was given a standing ovation. The 55-year-old was visibly moved by the reception. "I thought I was old enough not to get so emotional," he said.

Platini has pledged to implement his so-called Financial Fair Play policy which is aimed at making clubs live within their means. Those who do not comply could be barred from European competition from 2014/15.

"Financial fair play is a crucial project that will enable us to clean up certain practices within our game," said Platini. "There is a huge amount of money in football, but more importantly there is a moral problem in the way this money is sometimes generated and used."