PARIS: A French federation indication that is already considering going to CAS over the Michel Platini case suggests it doubts FIFA’s appeals committee will overturn his 90-day suspension writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The former captain and manager of France was suspended for 90 days by the world federation’s ethics committee last Wednesday pending a full investigation into allegations that he accepted a ‘disloyal payment’ authorised by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

FIFA’s Code of Ethics lays down that an initial appeal must be heard by the FIFA appeals committee. An further appeal, by either side, can then be submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

The FFF suggested that the appeals committee would hear appeals from both Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter within the next 10 days and possibly even at the end of this week.

A spokesman confirmed reports that the federation was already preparing the ground to support Platini in an appeal to CAS.

The fact that the FFF is already assessing CAS prospects is almost a giveaway about the legal advice it has been offered.

Platini, at this stage and apparently beyond his own comprehension, has not judged guilty of any offence. However ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert ruled that the allegations, emanating from investigations by the Swiss police, merited a ‘protective’ suspension.

It would be highly unusual for the FIFA appeals committee to overturn such a verdict. Indeed, it might even decide that it is not competent to rule on the cases of both Platini and Blatter – who has also been suspended for 90 days – because of the risks of conflict of interest concerning such senior members of its own, FIFA, government.

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