Will Michel Platini be back in charge for Euro 2016?

By Catherine Hardy



Michel Platini was smiling when he left the Court of Arbitration for sport in Lausanne on Friday.

However, the suspended UEFA president faces waiting until the 9 May to find out if his second appeal against a FIFA six-year ban for ethics violations has been successful.

If Platini is absolved, he would be free to resume his duties as UEFA president and attend Euro 2016 in his native France in an official capacity in June and July.

“It was like getting ready to score a goal,” Platini told reporters waiting outside. “I tried to be precise, clear and concise. I did the work, I issued an invoice following the FIFA guidelines and I paid tax on the money.”

“If I am president of UEFA, I will be attending all games during Euro 2016.”

Find out details of the tournament here

Why was Platini banned?

FIFA, the governing body for world football, found the 60-year-old guilty of breaching ethical standards over a 1.75 million euro “disloyal payment” made in 2011.

The former French international says the payment was for work he did as a FIFA advisor between 1999 and 2002.

He says the nine-year payment delay was due to FIFA’s financial situation.

The former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, was also found guilty.

Both men deny any wrongdoing.

Hasn’t there already been an appeal?

Yes.

The bans for both men were upheld by FIFA on appeal.

However, they were reduced from eight to six years after the organisation considered the service they had given during their tenure.

Why was Sepp Blatter at the hearing?

To give evidence in support of Platini.

The 80-year-old says he approved the payment to Platini as backdated salary.

Blatter’s appeal against his ban will be heard at a later date.

What they are saying

“I am optimistic. We are going to win, I am going to win.” – Michel Platini is hopeful his ban will be overturned.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-04-30

Crooked, plain stupid. Retirement after is football player career should have been his only option.

the fifa is a bit like ncpo

Hopefully not but as nothing has changed but some window dressing at FIFA he probably will be.

Its obvious that FIFA AND Uefa need an overhaul of new management.

1.7 million euro for what? back payments...ludicrous and sheer corruption

Platini in again will be the last nail on football's coffin loaded with toxic money!