“Bye bye, Fifa presidency”, Platini Withdraws From Election

January 8, 2016

Suspensed UEFA president Michel Platini has officially withdrawn his candidacy to become the next president of FIFA.

The Frenchman, along with Sepp Blatter, has been banned from all football-related activities for eight years after receving a ‘disloyal payment’ from the Swiss of £1.3 million.

Despite both men appealing the bans, Platini has decided the timing of the election, which takes place on 26 February, means he won’t be able to run. 

“I’m withdrawing from the race for the Fifa presidency,” Platini told the Associated Press.

“The timing is not good for me. I don’t have the means to fight on equal terms with the other candidates.

“I have not been given the chance to play the game. Bye bye, Fifa. Bye bye, Fifa presidency.”

Even though he has given up on the FIFA presidency, the 60-year-old refuses to give up on clearing his name of any wrongdoing and still plans to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“I’ve spent more time in hearing rooms than on football pitches speaking about 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 or football news,” Platini added.

“I’m taking this philosophically. Let’s wait and see what happens. But injustice is revolting me and I’m trying to fight it.”

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