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FIFA Ethics Committee Requests Life Ban For UEFA President Michel Platini

The FIFA ethics committee "requested a life ban" for UEFA President Michel Platini, the Frenchman's lawyer said Tuesday, "a move that would rule the UEFA president out of the race to succeed Sepp Blatter," according to Samuel Petrequin of the AP. Thibaut d'Ales said that "the maximum sanction was asked for when the FIFA ethics committee investigations unit submitted its final case report." Platini and Blatter "face separate hearings before FIFA ethics judge Joachim Eckert in December." D'Ales said, "The overreaching of the request really convinces us of this commission's total lack of credibility. There is not a single tangible element in this case that can confirm the suspicions." Platini "is currently serving a 90-day ban over cash he got as backdated salary almost nine years after he stopped working as Blatter's presidential adviser" from '98-02. Platini "denies wrongdoing and says he had a verbal contract with Blatter to receive the money." Eckert "is expected to give his verdicts in the cases of Platini and Blatter in December." Any sanctions "can be challenged at the FIFA appeals committee and Court of Arbitration for Sport." D'Ales said that "he was informed of the ethics committee's request on Monday and decided to make it public after it leaked in the French press." He said that FIFA's aim "is to prove that there was no contract between Platini and Blatter." D'Ales said, "Obviously we've got the proof that such a deal existed. We will submit it to CAS, which will handle the case within a fairly short space of time." A spokesperson for the FIFA ethics prosecutors "declined to confirm what sanction was requested last week" (AP, 11/24). The London GUARDIAN reported D'Ales described FIFA’s alleged life ban demand as a "scandal" and "excessive." Blatter’s representatives "refused to comment on whether the same request has been made against the Swiss official" (GUARDIAN, 11/24). In London, Ben Rumsby wrote Platini "is one of five official candidates to run football's scandal-hit ruling body with the election scheduled for February 26." D'Ales maintained there was a concerted effort inside FIFA "to prevent Platini taking over the top job in football." The lawyer commented, "I'm wondering if the person in charge shouldn't be called instead 'the person in charge of eliminating Michel Platini' from the FIFA presidency? It's pure scandal, and by making it public there's clearly an intention to cause harm" (TELEGRAPH, 11/24).

ONCE AND FOR ALL
: In London, Neil Gardner wrote Platini "cannot take part in the campaign to replace Blatter" until his suspension expires, although a life ban would end his chances "once and for all." Previous recipients of FIFA ethics life bans "include Jack Warner, Chuck Blazer and Mohammed Bin Hammam" (LONDON TIMES, 11/24).

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