By Mihir Bose BBC sports editor, in Dusseldorf

Blatter was effectively telling Uefa delegates, 'Vote for my friend Platini' Mihir Bose

Sporting elections are notoriously difficult to call.

As one veteran observer once told me: "Sport may be unpredictable but sporting elections are treacherous."

However, rarely have I come across quite such a fascinating and unpredictable a contest as the one for the presidency of Uefa.

At midday on Friday in Dusseldorf, Lennart Johansson will seek to fend off the challenge of Michel Platini for the top job in European football's governing body.

Depending on who you speak to, either Johansson will retain his position comfortably, or Platini will romp home leaving his rival embarrassed.

On Wednesday, the mood in Johansson's camp was buoyant, with word that he had secured 37 out of the 52 votes available.

He certainly has the support of two of the big four of European football, Germany and Spain.

The other big two, Italy and England, are not saying who they will vote for.

LENNART JOHANSSON Age: 77 Nationality: Swedish Background: President of Uefa, vice president of Fifa Pledges: Keen to keep present Champions League format; in favour of salary caps & reduction of number of foreign players in a side to three, & increasing number of teams in European Championships

But on Thursday, as Uefa delegates left the Congress venue on the banks of the Rhine, the talk was all about the intervention of Sepp Blatter.

The president of Fifa, world football's governing body, is a friend of Platini and his support may influence the vote.

As is usual in these congresses, the opening day is a bit of a show. Music is played, awards are given, and bland, boring speeches made.

But Blatter turned in a performance which took everyone by surprise.

Initially he said the conventional things: how rich and powerful European football is, and what a wonderful World Cup Germany staged last summer.

Convention would also have demanded he say nothing about the election, but Blatter has always defied convention.

He told delegates: "I am closely following the elections with legitimate interest.

"Both candidates have asked me whether they should stand and I have said 'yes'. Saying no to either would mean I would abandon my neutrality."

Had he stopped there, delegates would still have gone away thinking Blatter was neutral.

MICHEL PLATINI Age: 51 Nationality: French Background: All-time France great, member of Uefa & Fifa executive committees. Chairs Fifa technical & development committee, French Football Federation vice-president Pledges: Limit Champions League places per nation to three, four linesmen per game, against video help for refs

But he went on: "I do have my sympathy, sympathy for the man who has accompanied me since 1998, Michel Platini."

In 1998, Blatter defeated Johansson to become Fifa resident, and Platini, who was part of the French World Cup organising committee, supported him.

Now Blatter was effectively telling Uefa delegates "Vote for my friend Platini."

The intervention incensed Johansson supporters, some of whom told me that Blatter's words would prove counter-productive for the Frenchman.

However, another observer felt this reflected the growing support for Platini.

There were whispers that, following a meeting, the vast majority of the eastern European delegates might follow Blatter's lead and support Platini.

My feeling is that intense, last-minute lobbying could still swing the election either way, although a Platini victory would surprise nobody.