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Platini calls FIFA ban a 鈥榢ick in the teeth,鈥 vows fight
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Michel Platini called FIFA鈥檚 8-year ban a 鈥渒ick in the teeth鈥 but vowed yesterday to fight on for the presidency of world football鈥檚 governing body.
The FIFA vice president and UEFA leader condemned the ethics committee that banned him on Monday but said he would 鈥渇ight to clear my name鈥.
Platini鈥檚 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 8 years over a 2-million Swiss franc (US$2 million) 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. 鈥淚 will fight. But then I鈥檒l take my responsibilities according to what happens,鈥 he said in the exclusive interview.
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.
鈥淚鈥檓 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,鈥 he said.
鈥淭here was a debt that was settled, full stop! Then, in 2015, the Swiss court wanted more information.
鈥淭hen it took off at FIFA and a lot of people at FIFA are happy that this issue happened.
鈥淎nd here I am, suspended from all football-related activity for eight years.鈥
Platini repeated his suspicions that the timing of the ban was a deliberate attempt to prevent him from standing in February鈥檚 election.
鈥淲hat was the FIFA ethics committee doing between 2011 when I was paid and 2015? Was it sleeping? Suddenly it wakes up,鈥 he scoffed. 鈥淎h yes, it wakes up in a FIFA election year when I鈥檓 a candidate. It鈥檚 amazing!鈥
Platini insists he should not be bunged into the same bracket as Blatter, who has long been suspected of corrupt practices.
鈥淚鈥檓 fighting against this injustice, from one court to another,鈥 said Platini, referring to the various avenues of appeal he can take within FIFA, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and even in the Swiss civil court.
鈥淏ut there you go, in the meantime, my name has been dragged through the mud in the press.
鈥淲hatever happens, my reputation has been sullied, I鈥檝e been kicked in the teeth: I鈥檝e been put in the same bag as Blatter.鈥
Platini was an ally of the 79-year-old Blatter who turned against him as the FIFA leader refused to give up office.
Blatter, meanwhile, is ready to take 鈥渁ll legal steps鈥 to clear his name, his lawyers said.
鈥淧resident Blatter is eager to present his arguments to the appeal committee,鈥 his Zurich-based lawyer Lorenz Erni and Virginia-based counsel Richard Cullen said in a joint statement.
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