New setback for Platini as his initial appeal over ethics case is turned down
ZURICH: A first appeal by UEFA president Michel Platini over his 90-day suspension by FIFA’s ethics committee has been rejected writes KEIR RADNEDGE.
Lawyers for Platini, French head of European football since 2007, had registered two objections with the world federation’s appeals committee. The first concerned the process, the second the substantive issue.
This appeal rejected was on Platini’s insistence that he had not been granted a fair hearing by the ethics committee which suspended him provisionally pending a full investigation into allegations over his acceptance in 2011 of a ‘disloyal payment’ from FIFA on the authorisation of Sepp Blatter, its president.
Blatter is also under a 90-day suspension over financial misconduct allegations.
A statement from Platini’s lawyers, stating the rejection of the initial appeal, said that no date had yet been notified for the FIFA appeals committee to consider the substantive issue. If this appeal fails then Platini can take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Platini’s lawyers have told UEFA’s executive committee and national assoications that he hopes to clear his name in time to stand in the FIFA presidency election next February 26.
###########
