Michel Platini Facing Potential Life Ban: Latest Details on FIFA Investigation
Michel Platini's lawyer has revealed FIFA is seeking a lifetime ban for the organisation’s suspended vice-president.
As reported by the Guardian and AFP, the ethics watchdog of world football’s governing body has recommended the severe sanction in the wake of Platini and FIFA President Sepp Blatter—who is also suspended—having their appeals against 90-day bans rejected.
On Dec. 11, a FIFA ethics official said "Platini will certainly be suspended for several years," according to the AFP.
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Platini’s representative, Thibaud d’Ales, claimed the recommendations of a lifetime ban are “excessive” and insisted they should be considered a “scandal,” per BBC Sport. As relayed by the Guardian, Blatter’s lawyers declined to comment on whether the organisation was seeking a similarly significant ban for him.
The pair of suspensions are in relation to a payment of £1.35 million received by Platini from Blatter in 2011, which has subsequently been branded “disloyal.” The payment was claimed to be made in compensation for work carried out by the Frenchman between 1999 and 2002.
Both Blatter and Platini have denied allegations of any wrongdoing but have admitted there was no formal, written contract accompanying these exchanges, branding the transfer as a “gentleman’s agreement,” per the Guardian.
A verdict is set to be reached next month, before the suspensions of the duo expire. Platini is currently prohibited from taking part in the race to replace Blatter, who is set to leave his presidential post in early 2016.
