ZURICH: Michel Platini has undertaken the initial appeal against his eight-year suspension from all football.

The French president of European governing body UEFA – still in the role despite his punishment by the ethics committee of world federation FIFA – talked of a desire to fight against “injustice” as he launches his appeal against a Fifa-imposed ban from football.

The Uefa president was suspended in December for eight years from all football-related activity over a “disloyal payment” of £1.3m made to him in 2011 which had been authorised by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

The pair were suspended for eight years, but both deny any wrongdoing and have launched appeals against their sanctions.

Arriving for his hearing with FIFA’s appeals committee in Zurich, Platini said: “I am not fighting for my future, I am fighting against injustice. If I had anything to reproach myself for, I would be hiding in Siberia in shame.

“I will look people in the eyes, I have done nothing and I fear nothing. I am 60 years old and I never had a red card on the pitch.”

Blatter is also appealing against his own eight-year ban, with his case to be heard tomorrow/Tuesday.

The appeal committee, chaired by Larry Mussenden, the president of the Bermuda Football Association, has the power to reduce, increase or overturn the ban imposed in December.

As well as the ban, Platini was fined 80,000 Swiss francs (around £54,000) by the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee after being found guilty of financial misconduct in office.

If Platini fails – as is expected – to have his ban overturned he will take his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport  but this will take some months and may not even be heard before the UEFA Congress in May which may have to consider whether or not to elect a new president.

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