23 December,2015 08:28 AM IST | | AFP
Michel Platini called FIFA's eight-year ban a 'kick in the teeth' but vowed in an interview yesterday to fight on for the presidency of world football's governing body
Michel Platini
Paris: Michel Platini called FIFA's eight-year ban a "kick in the teeth" but vowed in an interview yesterday to fight on for the presidency of world football's governing body. The FIFA vice president and UEFA leader condemned the ethics committee that banned him on Monday but said he would "fight to clear my name."
Michel Platini
Platini's ban from all football activities prevents him from standing in the February 26 election to find a replacement for FIFA president Sepp Blatter and working as UEFA president.
Blatter and Platini were suspended for eight years over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) payment made to Platini in 2011 for work carried out between 1999 and 2002. Platini is determined to plough on in his quest to become the most powerful man in football. "I will fight. But then I'll take my responsibilities according to what happens," he told AFP in the exclusive interview.
However, Platini acknowledges that he may run out of time if the issue is not resolved quickly in his favour. "What is troubling is that I have no certainty about the timetable ahead. As long as I have not had the reasons for the suspension I cannot appeal before the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport)."
Nothing illegal
Platini insisted there was nothing illegal in the oral contract he said was agreed with Blatter. The salary agreement was however never disclosed in FIFA documentation until the payment was made in 2011.
"I'm struggling to understand. Why? How did we get to this? I did some work, I asked to be paid, I sent an invoice, I was paid, I paid my taxes on that. That was in 2011," he said. "There was a debt that was settled, full stop! Then, in 2015, the Swiss court wanted more information.
"Then it took off at FIFA and a lot of people at FIFA are happy that this issue happened. And here I am, suspended from all football-related activity for eight years. Whatever happens, my reputation has been sullied, I've been kicked in the teeth: I've been put in the same bag as Blatter."
