Platini will not perform official duties, UEFA says

Everyone who screws up will be suspended.

For Platini, the favorite who reportedly already had over 100 association votes for the February decision, this is a bleak moment.

Blatter’s lawyers issued a statement claiming the ethics committee should have allowed him to be heard.

Platini said he felt “staunch defiance” over the suspension from all involvement in global football. I am more determined than ever to defend myself before the relevant judicial bodies.

Niersbach was one of the key backers of UEFA president Michel Platini in his bid to replace Blatter in an election next February. It’s seems highly unlikely he could be approved to make the ballot while banned from carrying out any role in soccer for 90 days.

French sporting authorities are jumping to the defense of Michel Platini.

The 90-day suspension will sideline him until early December, when it can be extended an additional 45 days. He has confirmed that he has put in his application [for the presidency] but can he run?

The grounds for these decisions are the investigations that are being carried out by the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee.

Platini’s suspension creates a leadership gap at the top of the European federation which, under its own rules, should be filled by Angel Maria Villar.

“After a fraternal exchange, full of sincerity and cordiality, the CAF executive committee decided unanimously not to give Musa Bility the support he requested… wishing him good luck in the continuation of his mission”, said CAF. Platini has been named in the inquiry over a two million dollar payment from the world body in 2011.

Sources have told Reuters that the FBI has been looking at Blatter’s behavior as part of its investigation, though the US authorities have not accused him of wrongdoing.

Blatter was also suspended for 90 days on Thursday.

“FIFA must realize that this is now about more than just a list of candidates”, Bach said.

His twitter profile was also edited by the governing body to remove the reference to being president, though there’s no tweet has appeared on Blatter’s account since Friday.

Chung Mong-Joon says he’ll “mobilise all legal means” to fight the six-year ban. This is also a structural problem and will not be solved simply by the election of a new president.

Neither Platini or Chung were immediately available for comment. “This decision by the ethics committee has completely undermined the legitimacy and fairness of the next Federation Internationale de Football Association presidential election”.

FIFA’s sponsors are also expected to be asked why they took so little action in demanding reform of the scandal-hit world governing body.

“Fifa can not remain passive – they must act swiftly to regain credibility”.

The 79-year-old won a fifth consecutive presidential election on May 29 but announced that he would be laying down his mandate on June 2 following allegations of corruption.

UEFA said Platini “will not perform his official duties for the time being”. “I will serve only on an interim basis”, Hayatou said in a statement.

– Two Gulf sheikhs, who are members of FIFA’s executive committee, are constantly linked with the presidency: Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa from Bahrain and Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah, an Olympic powerbroker from Kuwait. He has denied any corruption and stated that the money was a gift for his confederation. An FA statement merely said it was waiting for the outcome of the investigation – but Dyke said it is prepared to drop its support.

Even though he had launched a campaign website, given interviews, called for a televised debate with other candidates and has visited Zurich to promote his campaign, he failed to attract much attention.