FIFA ethics committee seeks life ban for Platin
The ethics committee of world football governing body FIFA has recommended UEFA president Michel Platini be banned for life, a report said on Tuesday.
The investigatory chamber of the ethics committee presented its report to the decision chamber at the weekend and French newspaper Liberation, citing sources, said chief investigator Vanessa Allard was pushing for a life ban.
Platini’s fate will be decided at a hearing chaired by Germany’s Hans-Joachim Eckert which is expected to be in December.
Outgoing FIFA president Joseph Blatter and Platini were provisionally suspended by FIFA on Oct. 7 and had an appeal turned down last week.
The suspensions came in connection with a Swiss criminal investigation against Blatter over a “disloyal payment’’ of 2 million Swiss francs (dollars) to Platini in 2011, for work done between 1998 and 2002.
Platini and Blatter have said they did nothing wrong in connection with the payment but admitted there was no written contract.
Former French international Platini was considered a favourite to replace Blatter at an extraordinary congress set for Feb. 26, 2016 before being caught up in one of the scandals which have blighted FIFA this year.
Platini has submitted his candidacy to succeed him but he has not yet been approved to stand.
That depends on what, if any sanctions, are imposed on him by the ethics committee and passing an integrity check. (dpa/NAN)
