Banned Michel Platini confirms he has withdrawn from FIFA presidential race

Michel Platini has confirmed that he is abandoning his bid to become the next FIFA president .

This comes weeks after the Frenchman was banned from the game for eight years alongside Sepp Blatter by FIFA’s ethics committee over a conflict of interest regarding a £1.35million payment.

“I withdraw my candidacy,” Platini told French newspaper L’Equipe.

“I can no longer (go through with it). I have neither the time, nor the means to go and see the voters, to meet people, and to fight with others.”

Platini, the head of UEFA, is appealing the ban, insisting he has done no wrong, but has conceded that the February 26 deadline for the FIFA presidential elections is too close and therefore renders his candidacy impossible.

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The 60-year-old said he had originally received 150 declarations of support when he announced his candidacy.

The former Juventus man announced his appeal against the eighth year ban last month.

“The decision is no surprise to me: the procedure initiated against me by FIFA’s ethics committee is a pure masquerade,” he said in a statement.

“It has been rigged to tarnish my name by bodies I know well and who for me are bereft of all credibility or legitimacy.

“I will fight this to the end.”

Source : UKMirror

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