Agence France-Presse
Paris, Nov 24: FIFA’s ethics watchdog wants Michel Platini banned for life over a suspect payment, the European football chief’s lawyer stated Tuesday.
The FIFA vice-president is already serving a 90-day suspension while an investigation is being conducted into an USD two million sum he received from FIFA president Sepp Blatter who is also suspended.
Platini’s lawyer Thibaud d’Ales revealed the FIFA’s life ban demand which he described as a ‘scandal’ and ‘excessive’. “This ban is subject to the proof of corruption, but the punishment is clearly excessive,” D’Ales said. “It’s not based on anything in the case.”
Blatter’s representatives refused to comment on whether the same request has been made against the Swiss official.
FIFA’s investigatory chamber announced Monday that it has opened a case against Blatter and Platini and that it was aiming to announce a decision next month. Until then Platini, the president of UEFA, is forbidden to take part in the race to become Blatter’s successor as president of FIFA.
D’Ales maintained there was a concerted effort inside FIFA to prevent Platini taking over the top job in football. The 60-year-old French football legend had been favourite for the FIFA post until the latest charges were announced.
The lawyer commented: “I’m wondering if the person in charge of the investigation shouldn’t be called instead ‘the person in charge of eliminating Michel Platini’ from the FIFA presidency? It’s a pure scandal, and by making it public there’s clearly an intention to cause harm. There’s a strategy to get rid of Platini as a candidate.”
FIFA’s investigative committee affirmed that the report with requested sanctions had been handed over to Platini and Blatter’s legal team.
“I can confirm that Michel Platini and his lawyers have got the report and they have also received the request of the investigative committee,” spokesman Andreas Bantel said, without reference to the sanction demanded. “They know what is in the report and they are free to comment on it,” he added.
