Platini resigns as UEFA chief after ban appeal fails

Michel Platini on Monday resigned as UEFA president after his appeal against a ban from football activities failed though it was cut to four years.

The Frenchman said he was resigning to pursue the case over a suspect $2 million payment in Swiss courts in a bid to clear his name.

Michel Platini

He has been UEFA president since 2007 and the FIFA ban upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport effectively ended his career as one of the most powerful figures in sport.
The CAS rejected the appeal saying it was not convinced about the “legitimacy” of the payment ordered by ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

It did cut the ban from six years to four and reduced a fine from 80,000 Swiss francs ($80,000) to 60,000 Swiss francs.

“I note today’s decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport but I consider it a profound injustice,” Platini said in a statement.

“This decision inflicts a suspension for which the length stops me, de facto, and by luck, from being a candidate in the next FIFA presidential election,” he added.

“As agreed with the national associations, I resign as president of UEFA to pursue my fight before the Swiss courts to prove my probity in this case.

“Life has always kept beautiful surprises for me, now I am free to live them,” said the former French football star.

The decision means that Platini will not be able to take any official role in the European Championship finals that start in France on June 10. He was a key organiser of the event until the FIFA payment scandal erupted.

Factfile on UEFA president Michel Platini, who resigned on Monday after his appeal against a ban from football failed:

Name: Michel Platini

Nationality: French

Date of birth: June 21, 1955

Place of birth: Joeuf, France

Position as a player: Midfielder/playmaker

Current function: UEFA president since 2007 – resigned from the role on May 9, 2016 after he failed to overturn an international ban

Playing career:

Clubs: Nancy (1972-1979), Saint-Etienne 1979-1982), Juventus (1982-1987)

Major club honours: European Cup: (1985, Juventus); European Cup Winners’ Cup: (1984, Juventus); French league champion (1981, Saint-Etienne); Italian league champion: (1984, 1986, Juventus); French Cup: (1978, Nancy); Italian Cup: (1983, Juventus)

France national team: 72 caps (captain 50 times) 1976-1987, 41 goals

International honours: European champion 1984

Coaching career:

France national team 1988-1992

Personal honours:

Ballon d’Or – 1983, 1984, 1985

Platini also holds the record for most goals (9) scored in a European Championship in 1984