Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) head Michel Platini has pledged to appeal an eight-year ban from sport claiming he is a victim of a FIFA Ethics Committee conspiracy, Sputnik reported with the reference to Italian media.
In late September, the Swiss Office of the Attorney General launched a probe into corruption claims against FIFA President Joseph Blatter suspected of making a "disloyal payment" of $2.05 million to Platini in 2011 at the expense of FIFA, for work allegedly performed during the period of 1999-2002.
On December 21, FIFA's Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) banned both Blatter and Platini from sport for eight years. Both have announced their intention to appeal the decision.
"I am waiting to hear the reasons for the eight-year ban, because there will be an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. My lawyers are ready, and I will fight on all sporting levels, and, if necessary, I will turn to civil courts. I will accept responsibility, but it is not just me, it is a whole conspiracy against me," Platini told the Italian Gazetta dello Sport newspaper.
FIFA deplores the UEFA for the power it possesses as a federation, Platini claimed, adding that he was evidently not the only victim of the process.
On December 22, FIFA told Platini that he cannot bypass its appeals procedure and appeal his eight-year ban directly at the CAS. The former UEFA head will have to wait for a decision by the FIFA appeals committee.