Michel Platini to miss the Euro 2016 finals draw

[bennythedip2]

Platini fails to get ban lifted (Dec 11 2015)

UEFA president Michel Platini will miss the Euro 2016 finals draw in Paris on Saturday after failing in his bid to have his provisional 90-day ban from all football activity lifted.


The 60-year-old Frenchman had lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to lift the suspension but the court upheld the sanction imposed by FIFA's ethics committee.

That same committee is to hear a disciplinary case against the Frenchman next week over a £1.3million payment he received in 2011 from FIFA, signed off by the world governing body's president Sepp Blatter. Platini insists the 2million Swiss franc payment was owed from an oral agreement he made with Blatter when he started working as FIFA's technical advisor in 1998.

The Euro 2016 draw is close to Platini's heart, with the tournament being played in his home country, but Friday's ruling by CAS means he will miss the biggest event in the build-up.

Next week's FIFA ethics committee hearing could impose lifetime bans on both Platini and Blatter if corruption is proved, and shorter bans for lesser offences.

The timing of the 2011 payment has raised suspicions in that it was made only a few months before Blatter was standing again for the FIFA presidency. Both Blatter and Platini deny any wrongdoing.

Blatter announced in June that he would stand down as FIFA president when fresh elections are held, on February 26 next year, in the wake of corruption inquiries being instigated by both the US Department of Justice and the Swiss authorities into the organisation's activities.

Issa Hayatou is now the acting president of football's world governing body because of the provisional suspension imposed on Blatter.


Platini had initially been favourite to succeed Blatter as president prior to his suspension, which has prevented him from taking part in any campaigning for the most powerful job in football.

A statement from CAS confirmed the provisional ban had been upheld, but ordered FIFA not to extend it.

"The CAS panel....determined that maintaining the provisional suspension for the remainder of the 90 days does not cause irreparable harm to Michel Platini at this point in time," it read.

"Indeed, the CAS panel has noted that, at the hearing of December 8, 2015, FIFA's representatives confirmed FIFA's assurances expressed earlier that the FIFA ethics committee would render its final decision on the merits (of the case) on or before 5 January 2016, ie. before the provisional suspension comes to an end.

"The CAS panel also emphasised that, even if the ban were lifted at this time, such measure would not give any guarantee to Michel Platini that the FIFA ad hoc electoral committee would validate his candidature for the FIFA presidential election before January 5, 2016.

"However, the CAS panel considered that the situation would change if FIFA were to extend the provisional suspension for any period up to 45 days, on the basis of "exceptional circumstances".

"The panel found that such an extension would constitute an undue and unjustified restriction of Michel Platini's right of access to justice, cause irreparable harm to him and also tip the balance of interest test in his favour. As a consequence, the CAS panel ordered FIFA not to extend the current provisional suspension imposed on Michel Platini."

[bennythedip2]

Latest Paper Gossip (Friday Nov 11th)

THE SUN

Real Madrid want to take Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho back to the Bernabeu next summer.
Ryan Giggs is a shock contender to succeed sacked Garry Monk as manager of Swansea.
Real Madrid star James Rodriguez wants a move to Chelsea after becoming unhappy at Bernabeu.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa has hinted at a possible return to Atletico Madrid.

DAILY MIRROR

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama his top transfer target in January.
Bayern Munich's honorary president Franz Beckenbauer fears Pep Guardiola could be attracted to Old Trafford because of Manchester United's global appeal.
Arsenal are trying to poach Leicester’s highly-regard scout Steve Walsh.
Stoke are ready to hand a new deal to Marko Arnautovic.

DAILY MAIL

Wayne Rooney is being offered a 75million deal to be reunited with Sven Goran Eriksson at Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG.
Swansea are considering a move for Ostersunds’ English manager Graham Potter, who has won a third promotion in five years with the Swedish club.
Remi Garde has confirmed an interest in signing Ashley Cole to help Aston Villa's survival bid.
Manchester United's players have cancelled their Christmas party in the wake of the club's humiliating Champions League debacle.
Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot has dismissed talks of rifts within the dressing room as the Magpies attempt to turn their season around.

THE EXPRESS

Manchester United are plotting a £50million summer move to beat Chelsea to Everton's John Stones.
Arsene Wenger is lining up a move for Charlton forward Ademola Lookman as Arsenal's first signing of the January transfer window.

DAILY STAR

Diego Costa has dropped a big hint he is ready to quit Chelsea and return to Atletico Madrid.
Manchester United have sent scouts to watch Anderlecht's midfield prodigy Youri Tielemans, who was also watched by representatives from Everton and Aston Villa.

THE INDEPENDENT

Swansea are keen to assess Ryan Giggs's managerial intentions before making a final decision on the identity of Garry Monk's successor at the Liberty Stadium.

THE TIMES

Manchester United are working on separate deals for Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Gareth Bale, but fear that the demands of the Barclays Premier League represent a significant obstacle to recruiting one of the game's global superstar.
Brendan Rodgers is expected to reject the chance to return to Swansea in place of Garry Monk because he hopes to succeed Roy Hodgson as England manager this summer.

THE TELEGRAPH

Manchester United's hierarchy firmly believes that success in the Premier League is far more important than an extended run in the Champions League, a fact that adds extra pressure on Louis van Gaal as he returns to domestic duty at Bournemouth on Saturday.

THE GUARDIAN with 'The best story of all'

Steven Naismith has paid for Christmas dinner for hundreds of homeless people though he may be leaving Everton soon after his manager Roberto Martínez hinted that the forward's future may lie away from Goodison Park.
The Scottish forward sponsored an annual meal in Glasgow organised by the charity, Loaves and Fishes, which helps those sleeping rough in the city.

[Tony2005]

Real Madrid want to take Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho back to the Bernabeu next summer

Why wait....

I can drop him off there over christmas if they like............