Egypt Education Platform's EEP Run raises funds for Gaza    IMF approves $1.5m loan to Bangladesh    China in advanced talks to join Digital Economy Partnership Agreement    Egypt's annual inflation declines to 31.8% in April – CAPMAS    Chimps learn and improve tool-using skills even as adults    13 Million Egyptians receive screenings for chronic, kidney diseases    Al-Mashat invites Dutch firms to Egypt-EU investment conference in June    Asian shares steady on solid China trade data    Trade Minister, Building Materials Chamber forge development path for Shaq El-Thu'ban region    Cairo mediation inches closer to Gaza ceasefire amidst tensions in Rafah    Taiwan's exports rise 4.3% in April Y-Y    Microsoft closes down Nigeria's Africa Development Centre    Global mobile banking malware surges 32% in 2023: Kaspersky    Mystery Group Claims Murder of Businessman With Alleged Israeli Ties    Egypt, World Bank evaluate 'Managing Air Pollution, Climate Change in Greater Cairo' project    US Embassy in Cairo announces Egyptian-American musical fusion tour    Japanese Ambassador presents Certificate of Appreciation to renowned Opera singer Reda El-Wakil    Sweilam highlights Egypt's water needs, cooperation efforts during Baghdad Conference    AstraZeneca injects $50m in Egypt over four years    Egypt, AstraZeneca sign liver cancer MoU    Swiss freeze on Russian assets dwindles to $6.36b in '23    Amir Karara reflects on 'Beit Al-Rifai' success, aspires for future collaborations    Climate change risks 70% of global workforce – ILO    Prime Minister Madbouly reviews cooperation with South Sudan    Egypt retains top spot in CFA's MENA Research Challenge    Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation    Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action    President Al-Sisi embarks on new term with pledge for prosperity, democratic evolution    Amal Al Ghad Magazine congratulates President Sisi on new office term    Egyptian, Japanese Judo communities celebrate new coach at Tokyo's Embassy in Cairo    Uppingham Cairo and Rafa Nadal Academy Unite to Elevate Sports Education in Egypt with the Introduction of the "Rafa Nadal Tennis Program"    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat    BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Platini plans comeback, legal fight after 4-year FIFA ban
Published in Ahram Online on 08 - 10 - 2019

Four years after a ban for financial wrongdoing thwarted his chances of becoming FIFA president, Michel Platini is free to work in soccer again on Tuesday.
However, the former UEFA president _ who was once seen as the heir apparent to FIFA's Sepp Blatter _ said Monday he is still unsure where and when he will return to the game that has continued to dominate his life even after his stellar playing career with France.
``I have some idea but it's difficult to speak today,'' Platini told The Associated Press in an interview about his future plans, hours before the ban was set to expire.
And any comeback into a senior role would likely force him to first pay FIFA a fine of 60,000 Swiss francs ($60,300) that is three years overdue. Platini is still challenging that fine in court and continues to dispute the allegations that led to his four-year ban from all football activities. The charges of receiving an irregular payment and wrongful pension entitlement approved by Blatter derailed Platini's hopes of succeeding his former mentor as the head of global soccer.
Now aged 64, Platini looks hardly to have aged at all during that ban, which became the longest vacation of his storied life in soccer.
The former France said he is keeping all options open, but pointed out that the next elections for top roles at FIFA, UEFA and the French football association are ``some years ahead.''
In the Paris headquarters of the French federation, the 77-year-old Noel Le Graet, recently promoted by UEFA to a seat on FIFA's ruling council, is in office until 2021.
``It's not now,'' said Platini, who captained and coached the national team, and organized the 1998 World Cup won by France at home. ``I have time, if I come back to this.''
Currently, his focus is on what is likely the last legal fight against allegations that were upheld so far by two FIFA judicial bodies, the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Switzerland's supreme court.
Platini has challenged the Swiss federal ruling at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, and ``that means I don't pay this fine'' until a ruling is issued.
That ongoing sense of injustice, and unpaid debt, could cause FIFA's ethics committee to impede his return.
``They will try to use what they want so that I don't come back, I am sure,'' Platini suggested of soccer's world body, which has been led since 2016 by his former general secretary at UEFA, Gianni Infantino.
FIFA declined to comment Monday on its rules enforcing payment of fines. It did confirm that Blatter paid his fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($50,250) first imposed in 2015.
Blatter is serving a six-year FIFA ban, upheld by CAS, for authorizing a $2-million payment to Platini in 2011 as backdated salary for work as his adviser a decade earlier. Blatter also approved extending his former protege's FIFA pension plan, that added more than $1 million by 2015.
Court documents state Platini later asked to be credited with four extra pension years for his time as an adviser, when the scheme was intended only for executive committee members.
``I never asked for the pension, it was Blatter who gave me that,'' Platini said Monday.
The Frenchman also weighed in on several other issues concerning global soccer.
QATAR
Platini said the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be wonderful for fans.
Qatar won a FIFA hosting vote over the United States in 2010 that Blatter has often blamed on Platini changing sides, and taking other European voters with him. Platini was said to be pressured at a lunch meeting in Paris with then-president Nicolas Sarkozy and the crown prince of Qatar, now the Emir.
``It was not important, it was one vote,'' he said Monday about his own role in Qatar's victory.
French prosecutors investigating the 2022 World Cup vote questioned Platini over several hours in June.
Platini stressed that he was not arrested and said he was asked about ``Blatter, FIFA TV rights, Qatar, Paris Saint-Germain'' during the questioning.
INVITATIONS
Platini was ambivalent about going to Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup in December _ the first big test there of World Cup planning.
He noted that he was not invited by organizers to the 2018 World Cup in Russia or the 2017 Champions League final in Cardiff despite supporting both hosting bids.
``I don't wait on (anything) from anybody,'' he said.
VIDEO REVIEW
Never a fan of technology in soccer, Platini is unhappy with the effect of video review to help referees.
He said the video system ``killed'' the referee's authority and atmosphere in the stadium when fans can't immediately be sure if a goal will count.
``It's a joke but unfortunately I think we will never go back,'' he said, suggesting there were mistakes for both of France's first-half goals in the 2018 World Cup final that video review could not or did not correct. France beat Croatia 4-2.
NEW BOOK
Platini will have a book published in November reflecting on his post-playing career in soccer leadership.
It will include his claim that there was ``two people sleeping'' during his FIFA Appeal Committee hearing. It upheld the charges but reduced his ban from eight to six years. A CAS judging panel cut the ban to four years.
A NICE LIFE
Platini said his career after playing was ``something that I never expected.''
``In the end, I was not so unlucky. It was nice. If I do nothing (next), it will be nice too,'' he said. ``I am someone who always lives with the destiny. What happens, happens.''
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)


Clic here to read the story from its source.