UEFA president Michel Platini resigns after ban reduced from six years to four

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 09 May 2016

UEFA president Michel Platini reportedly steps down after his six-year ban from football is reduced to four by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Michel Platini has stepped down as UEFA president after the Frenchman's ban from all football-related activity was reduced from six years to four.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport took two years off the suspension, which was issued after Platini received an alleged "disloyal" £1.3m payment from former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who is also serving a ban.

Platini, whose initial eight-year ban was reduced to six by FIFA's appeals committee in February, argued that the payment was for work that he carried out for football's world governing body between 1998 and 2002.

However, CAS has opted against overturning the Frenchman's ban, effectively ending his career in the sport.

After the news was announced, Platini's lawyer told The AP that the 60-year-old will resign as UEFA president at the body's next congress following an eight-year term.

CAS has stated that it decided on the ban because of "the absence of any repentance and the impact that this matter has had on FIFA's reputation".

Platini was in the running to replace Blatter as FIFA president before his alleged involvement in corrupt activity came to light.