Michel Platini is facing a lifetime ban from football due to the probe into a payment made to him by departing FIFA President Sepp Blatter, according to his lawyer.
Formal proceedings were launched against the French UEFA President by the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee yesterday – after the investigatory chamber had requested sanctions following its deliberations.
Blatter is in an identical position but no details about the penalties requested against either official have been officially revealed.
The adjudicatory chamber, chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert, is expected to announce a ruling in December but Platini’s lawyer Thibaut d’Ales has alleged that a lifelong ban has been recommended.
He has also been quoted describing this potential punishment as “a scandal” and “excessive” while there has been no word on whether the same sanction is being sought against Blatter.
Both Platini, who still harbours slim hopes of becoming FIFA President, and Blatter are currently serving 90-days suspensions handed out by the Ethics Committee after the Swiss oversaw the payment of CHF 2 million (£1.3 million/$2.1 million/€1.8 million) to the 50-year-old in 2011.
The money was allegedly for work carried out by the ex-Juventus midfielder between 1999 and 2002 – raising suspicions about the nine-year-gap – although both men deny any wrongdoing.
They will each be able to submit their positions to Eckert’s panel, including any evidence they may have, with regards to the investigatory chamber’s findings.
FIFA threw out appeals against the suspensions from both men last week, with Platini responding by taking his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
Seventy-nine-year-old Blatter, who is also being investigated for a contract he signed with the Caribbean Football Union, said yesterday that he was “close to death” after a short spell in hospital earlier this month.
He will step down as FIFA President in February following the corruption scandal which has engulfed the organisation.
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