This morning the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found that the six-year suspension imposed on Michel Platini by FIFA was too severe and should be reduced to four years, despite also being ‘not convinced by the legitimacy’ of a CHF 2,000,000 (€1,800,00) payment from FIFA. Since the announcement of this decision, FIFA, UEFA and Michel Platini himself have responded with statements:

Michel Platini statement

I take note of the decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport but I view it as a profound injustice.

This decision inflicts on me a suspension that effectively, as luck would have it, stops me from contesting the next FIFA presidential election.

As agreed with the national associations, I am resigning from my duties as UEFA president to pursue my battle in the Swiss courts to prove my innocence in this case.

Life is always full of surprises: I am henceforth available to experience more of them.

UEFA statement on Michel Platini

UEFA has taken note of the decision of the FIFA Ethics Committee to suspend Michel Platini for eight years from all football-related activities.

Naturally UEFA is extremely disappointed with this decision, which nevertheless is subject to appeal.

Once again, UEFA supports Michel Platini’s right to a due process and the opportunity to clear his name.

FIFA statement

FIFA has acknowledged the decision rendered today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case involving Michel Platini, which has partially maintained the decision taken by the FIFA Appeal Committee on 24 February 2016.

In particular, by lowering the sanction from six to four years and the CHF 80,000 fine to CHF 60,000.