Platini "happy" to answer questions in Swiss court

By Andrew Warshaw

October 19 – UEFA boss Michel Platini (pictured right) took the unusual step of appearing in a Swiss court today over why UEFA has not yet implemented a ruling to reinstate Sion in the Europa League.

Platini spent around two hours at the prosecutor’s office in the Canton of Vaud and was followed by general secretary Gianni Infantino.

“The President is really happy to have answered questions from the prosecutor as a witness,” UEFA spokesman Alexandre Fourtoy (pictured left) told reporters.

“We will not further comment so that justice can gather all the information and draw its conclusion.”

Sion were kicked out of the Europa League by UEFA for fielding ineligible players in their playoff tie against Celtic in August.

They lost an appeal against the decision, but defying FIFA and UEFA rules, which ban clubs from taking their cases to civil courts, won an injunction in their favour at a Swiss court.

UEFA have drawn up emergency procedures by which Sion could be integrated into group stages of the competition – where Celtic took Sion’s place alongside Atlético Madrid, Rennes and Udinese – if forced to do so.

UEFA wants the case to be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and said it would reintegrate Sion if the Swiss club won the case there.

A meeting with the four clubs takes place Friday.

“UEFA appreciates that any changes in the format of the UEFA Europa League need to be discussed with the four other clubs in the group that are affected by the matter,” said a UEFA statement.

“Udinese Calcio, Celtic FC, Club Atlético de Madrid, Stade Rennais FC and UEFA have all urged the CAS to decide the case quickly.”

By contrast, it seems only FC Sion are still attempting to obstruct justice and delay matters in a way the CAS itself has described as “manifestly abusive”.

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