UEFA president Michel Platini who attends the 61st FIFA congress in this picture taken June 1, 2011 at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland. [Photo/Agencies] |
LAUSANNE - Suspended FIFA presidential candidate Michel Platini hopes his 90-day suspension will be lifted in time for him to attend the Euro 2016 draw in Paris on Saturday, he said on Tuesday.
Platini, head of European soccer's governing body UEFA, said he did not like "injustices" as he spoke to reporters at a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where he has appealed against his ban.
Platini, who until recently was seen as the man to lead FIFA out of its worst ever graft crisis, was suspended by FIFA's ethics committee on Oct. 8 pending a full FIFA ethics investigation into his conduct.
Sepp Blatter, who has been FIFA president since 1998, was also suspended after being swept up by a crisis that has led to criminal investigations into the sport in both Switzerland and the United States.
CAS are expected to decide whether to lift Platini's suspension by the end of the week. France is hosting the European championship next June and July and the draw which decides which of the 24 teams go into which first round groups takes place in Paris on Saturday.
"You know I don't like injustices. So I hope I've been heard today," Platini told reporters as he got in his car to leave.
Asked if he would be at the draw on Saturday in Paris, he replied: "Go and ask them (CAS). I hope, I hope."
"They (the CAS panel) heard me well. Lawyers have been very good," he added.