Platini cannot appeal to CAS directly

Sepp Blatter is ready to take “all legal steps” to clear his name after he was banned from football for eight years by a FIFA court over ethics violations, his lawyers said on Tuesday.

Both are under scrutiny over a 2011 payment of two million Swiss francs ($2 million) made to Platini with Blatter’s approval, for work done 10 years earlier.

“Prevented by Federation Internationale de Football Association from going straight to the CAS, prevented from lodging an appeal against the ban (immediately, internally with FIFA) because we do not yet know the reasons, Michel Platini and his advisors condemn an act of sabotage aimed at stopping him from being elected president of Federation Internationale de Football Association”, read a statement from the Frenchman’s lawyers. Platini on Monday slammed the ban as a “masquerade” and vowed to fight it in court, while Vitaly Mutko, the Russian sports minister, said Blatter “did not deserve a ban”. “Was it sleeping?” he said.

“But in the meantime, my name has been dragged through the mud”, he added.

FC’s Gab Marcotti reports that Michel Platini can not appeal directly through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The New FIFA Now campaign group, which I have been working with has a number of good ideas for the reform process, helped by the fact that some of those I work with have first-hand experience of FIFA’s problems and helped draw them to the surface in the first place.

“Whatever happens, my reputation has been sullied, I’ve been kicked in the teeth – I’ve been put in the same bag as Blatter”.

“He has fought for football for a very long time and I feel that such a thing should not be done to him, I hope they can review his case and give him a lesser punishment, ” he said.

“I’m struggling to understand. Why?”

While the decision announced yesterday confirmed that there was no corruption or bribery, President Blatter is eager to present his arguments to the Appeal Committee that the remaining charges must also fail because the evidence clearly demonstrates the relationship with Mr. Platini was in all respects appropriate. But then I’ll take my responsibilities according to what happens. “I did some work, I asked to be paid, I sent an invoice, I was paid, I paid my taxes on that”.

“There was a debt that was settled, full stop”.

And this is an important aspect that I will be looking out for when the candidates make their respective bids for the Presidency; the future role of the supporters, the life and soul of what makes football what it is today.