Platini Goes To CAS

Platini, alongside Sepp Blatter, were last week, handed six-year bans for a “disloyal payment” made to the Frenchman by the former FIFA president in 2011.

They were given eight-year suspension each, which was later reduced by two years in recognition of their services to the game, but neither of them were satisfied with the verdict and vowed to appeal their bans at CAS, which was confirmed on Wednesday.

CAS announced on Wednesday morning that Michel Platiini was challenging his suspension from football at a national and international level.

Its statement read: “Michel Platini has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against the decision issued by the Fifa Appeal Committee on 24 February 2016.

“In appealing to the Cas, Michel Platini seeks to annul the decisions taken by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Fifa Ethics Committee and by the Fifa Appeal Committee which lead to him being declared ineligible to take part in football-related activity at national and international level for six years.

“A Cas arbitration procedure is in progress. First, the parties will exchange written submissions and a panel of three arbitrators will be constituted. The Panel will then issue directions with respect to the holding of a hearing.

“Following the hearing, the Panel will deliberate and on a later date, it will issue a decision in the form of an Arbitral Award.”