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Zurich – Banned Uefa president Michel Platini could face further investigation from Fifa’s Ethics Committee after attending an awards ceremony and conference in Dubai despite being barred from “all football activity”.
Platini, the head of European soccer body Uefa, was handed an eight year ban from the game by Fifa’s Ethics Committee on December 21, along with banned Fifa president Sepp Blatter. He is appealing the decision and insists he has done no wrong.
The ban relates to a payment of two million Swiss francs made by Blatter’s Fifa to Platini in 2011, nine years after he finished working as a consultant to Blatter.
On December 27, Platini attended the Globe Soccer Awards organised by the Dubai Sports Council in Dubai, along with soccer stars such as Argentine Lionel Messi and Italian Andrea Pirlo.
Frenchman Platini was photographed at the event and also made comments regarding his ban to the Italian media while in Dubai.
A spokesperson for Fifa’s Ethics Committee declined to comment on the specific case but said: “In general terms: The Investigatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee of Fifa investigates any alleged breach of the Ethics Code of Fifa.”
A spokesperson for Platini did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The December 21 ruling from Fifa Ethics Committee chair Hans-Joachim Eckert stated that Blatter and Platini were banned “for eight years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) on a national and international level. The bans come into force immediately.” – AFP
Online Reporter