FIFA says Platini arguments 'not valid'

FIFA's ethics committee has declined the argument by Michel Platini's lawyer that his client was not allowed to defend himself in the adjudicatory chamber of committee before his suspension, saying that the remark is 'not valid'.

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According to Sport24, the UEFA president was heard for more than five hours by the committee and, subsequently, didn't find a need for a second hearing.

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The statement on behalf of FIFA's ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert further insisted that the proceeding of Platini was in line with the FIFA's code of ethics.

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Earlier, FIFA president Sepp Blatter was handed a 90-day ban by the FIFA's Ethics Committee due to Swiss proceedings against them.

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Platini also saw his ambitions of succeeding Blatter ending after receiving an identical sanction.

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FIFA was plunged into an unprecedented crisis when Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter last month over allegations that he sold World Cup TV rights to disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner for 20 times below their true value.

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Meanwhile, Platini was also questioned over claims that he received a 'disloyal payment' of 1.35 million pounds from the controversial president in 2011, though both of them have denied charges.

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FIFA, which also suspended its Secretary General Jerome Valcke, said that the duration of the bans might be extended for an additional period not exceeding 45 days.