Michel Platini withdraws from FIFA presidential race

Banned Uefa chief Michel Platini has withdrawn his candidacy in the race to become president of scandal-ridden world football governing body, Fifa.
The Frenchman, alongside former mentor and outgoing Fifa president Sepp Blatter, was banned for eight years from all football related activities by Fifa’s independent ethics committee last month.

Platini finally throws in the towel. Image: Daily Mail

“I withdraw my candidacy,” Platini told French newspaper L’Equipe.
“I can no longer (go through with it). I have neither the time, nor the means to go and see the voters, to meet people, and to fight with others.”
Platini, 60, has always insisted he’s innocent, labeling the ban as “farcical” and vowing to fight on to clear his name and be back in time for the presidential race where he was odds-on favourite at a point, but it appeared the enormity of the situation has finally hit home.
“By withdrawing, I chose to fully focus on my defence on a case where there’s no talk of corruption, falsification anymore, in which there’s nothing left,” added Platini.

Partners in crime? Image: Mirror

“It’s a matter of schedule, but it’s not just that. How do you win an election when you’re prevented from campaigning?”
The former France captain saw his world crashing down when it was revealed last October he received a “disloyal” payment of $2m from Blatter in 2011 for services he’d rendered nine years prior.
The Fifa Ethics committee frowned at the deal which came just before Blatter’s reelection that same year, pointing at a lack of transparency and conflict of interest.
Both men have since appealed their bans.
Source: AFP

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