By Andrew Warshaw
December 8 – The imminent judgement by the Court of Arbitration for Sport into Michel Platini’s suspension will determine whether or not the UEFA president can take centre stage at Saturday’s Euro 2016 draw in Paris.
Having successfully pushed for an expanded finals next summer, Platini is desperate not to miss the gala occasion in his own backyard that is attracting scores of delegates and media to the French capital.
The CAS decision into Platini’s appeal against his provisional suspension by FIFA’s ethics committee is expected some time on Friday, ironically around the time of a press conference following the final session this year of the UEFA executive committee.
Platini, who until recently was favourite to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president, has had his candidacy put on hold pending the outcome of a full investigation into alleged financial mismanagement.
Blatter has also been suspended after being swept up by a crisis that has led to criminal investigations in both Switzerland and the United States but the veteran Swiss decided against going to the CAS.
“You know I don’t like injustices. So I hope I’ve been heard today,” Platini told reporters as he left the CAS hearing on Tuesday. Asked if he would be at the draw on Saturday, he replied: “Go and ask them (CAS). I hope, I hope. They (the CAS panel) heard me well. Lawyers have been very good.”
Earlier, on arrival, Platini said he would tell the panel “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
The case centres on the payment and timing of two million Swiss francs that Blatter approved should be paid to Platini in 2011 as backdated salary. Platini was a presidential adviser to Blatter from 1998-2002. Both deny any wrongdoing, but acknowledge there was only a verbal agreement which they say is valid under Swiss law.
The payment, which was not disclosed to the FIFA executive committee, came as Blatter was preparing for a presidential election challenge by Mohamed bin Hammam who ultimately withdrew over the infamous cash-for-votes scandal in the Caribbean.
Even if the CAS freezes his temporary suspension, any reprieve allowing him to be present at Saturday’s draw as well as resuming his FIFA presidential campaign may only be for a matter of days.
Next week Platini appears before FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert who seems likely to deliver a lengthy ban which will be far harder for Platini to get overturned.
Intriguingly, the agenda for this week’s UEFA exco session includes the item “extraordinary congress 2016.”
This can only mean UEFA are discussing the prospect of holding two congresses next year, the second an electoral one, in case Platini is banned, mindful of the fact they will need a president in place to hand over the trophy to the winners of next summer’s Euros.
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