Suspended UEFA president Michel Platini said he was more optimistic of having his six-year ban from soccer overturned after his appeal hearing at sport's highest tribunal on Friday, with a decision due within 10 days. "I am even more optimistic after (this hearing) because, sincerely the team that came, and you saw that we were numerous, was very good," the Frenchman told reporters following an eight-hour hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS secretary general Mathieu Reebok said that a decision would be made by the panel of three judges "by Monday May 9 at the latest". If Platini is absolved, he would be free to resume his duties as UEFA president and attend Euro 2016 in his native France in an official capacity in June and July. "I am going to go on holiday, wait and maybe I will be definitely on holiday, or retired," said Platini, referring to the possibility of losing his appeal. "If I am president of UEFA, I will be at every game at Euro 2016." Platini was banned for eight years in December along with former FIFA president Sepp Blatter over a payment of two million Swiss francs ($2.08 million) made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter's approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier. FIFA's ethics committee, which imposed the ban, said the payment, made at a time when Blatter was seeking re-election, lacked transparency and presented conflicts of interest. Both men denied wrongdoing and had their bans reduced to six years by FIFA's Appeal Committee in February. (For more sportsnews andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/204734.aspx
