UEFA Presidency Becomes Two-Man Race As Villar Announce Exit

Angel Maria Villar, the head of Spain's football association, announced Tuesday ended his bid to replace the banned Michel Platini as president of UEFA.

The veteran FIFA and UEFA vice president surprise defection leaves just two candidates for European football's top job - Dutchman Michael van Praag and Aleksander Ceferin of Slovenia.

"After a profound reflection I have decided to withdraw my bid," Villar said in a statement posted on the website of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The election for the coveted post will  take place on September 14 at the UEFA Congress in Athens, Greece.