Michel Platini announces his return to the football world. The former football player, who received a years-long suspension as a director of UEFA, will join the board of the international players’ union FIFPro in November. Platini’s suspension expired two years ago, leaving him free to return to football.
“This makes me very happy”, says Platini. “I have always said that I would come back if I could be of any use. Football belongs to the players and the fans. I return to my people, the players, to defend and justify their position. And above everything to jointly build the future of football.”
Platini was UEFA president from 2007 to 2015. In his last year at the European Football Association, the Frenchman was seriously discredited because of accepting a payment from then FIFA president Sepp Blatter. He was initially banned for eight years, but Platini challenged the suspension several times. Although acquittal was not forthcoming, the Frenchman had some success in court.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) eventually suspended Platini for four years and fined him 60,000 Swiss francs (EUR 55,000) for accepting two million Swiss francs (EUR 1.8 million) without a legal basis. ) from Blatter’s hands.
The news of Platini’s return also makes it onto the talk show The the Dutch Summer past. “At least a reliable, honest man,” jokes Johan Derksen. Then he takes a serious tone: “Isn’t it ridiculous? Such a man should never return to an official position in football, if you let yourself be bribed!?”
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