Platini angered by upheld ban

UEFA president Michel Platini was angered and determined to appeal after his ban for ethics violations was upheld by FIFA on Wednesday.

The 60-year-old Frenchman's suspension, along with the ban of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, was earlier reduced from eight to six years by FIFA's appeals committee considering the duo's service to football.

"It is an insulting decision, shameful and a denial of rights," said Platini in a statement.

"In reality, it is a political decision taken by a bureaucracy that has no counterweight at the heart of its organization."

The scandal-hit FIFA had banned Blatter and Platini from all football-related activities for eight years on December 21 over a two million Swiss franc payment Platini had received from Blatter in 2001.

The legendary former French footballer, who explained that the 2m were paid by FIFA with Blatter's approval for his work done as special consultant during 1999-2002, was thus denied a chance to run for FIFA presidency.

FIFA's ethics committee, however, said the payment, made at a time when the Swiss' seeking re-election, lacked transparency.

It was announced to be reduced Wednesday evening since the FIFA appeal body considered the ethics tribunal did not take into account "some strong mitigating factors" when determining the eight-year sanction.

"The charges against me are baseless, built from the ground up and surreal in view of the facts and the explanations I gave during the hearing," said Platini after his appeal was upheld.

"I will go through all the possible appeals, starting with CAS," he said. "I will go to the end of my fight to show that I'm innocent." Endit