Platini to resign from UEFA after failed ban appeal

"UEFA President Michel Platini will resign after failing to have his six year ban from football overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport."
Published by
09th May 2016
Categories: France, UEFA Super Cup

UEFA President Michel Platini will resign after failing to have his six year ban from football overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

 

Platini still denies any wrongdoing after his six year ban was reduced to four years, which has led to Platini resigning from his position where he hoped to have all charges cleared.

Platini and former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter were found guilty of ‘disloyal payment’ totalling £1.3 million last year and were given eight year bans which were later reduced to six years as a reward for their long service to sport.

Following their appeal appeal to reduce the ban, a three man panel from the Court of Arbitration for Sport said they were still not convinced by the legitimacy of the payment, which is also being looked into by Swiss prosecutors.

Platini and Blatter said that the payment was made for consultancy work which Platini had carried out for Blatter between 1998 and 2002 when working as Blatter’s presidential adviser, before reaching a gentleman’s agreement on the payment.

FIFA was also critcised by the court for knowing about the payment four years prior to the investigation, which ultimately ended Platini’s hopes of replacing Blatter at the head of Fifa.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has removed Platini from world football effectively until his UEFA mandate expires in March 2019.

Platini has therefore not been able to take part in Euro 2016 which takes place this summer in his home country of France.

Platini will now focus on clearing his name through the Swiss legal system as he maintains his innocence and justifies the ruling as “unfair” and “a conflict of interest.”

UEFA will meet on 18th May in Switzerland  to discuss what happens next as UEFA search for a presidential replacement. An election in September is likely as Blatter waits to hear his challenge over his six year ban.