Platini won't attend FIFA hearing
December 16, 2015
The lawyers of UEFA president Michel Platini have stated that the Frenchman won't attend the FIFA ethics committee hearing on Friday in protest over his suspension.
"Michel Platini has decided not to attend his hearing at the FIFA ethics committee on December 18, 2015, as the verdict of this ethics committee has been announced in the press last weekend by one of its spokespersons, Mr Andreas Bantel, in disregard of all fundamental rights, starting with the presumption of innocence," the lawyers said in a statement.
In his decision to boycott the hearing Platini "intends to show his deepest indignation towards a process which he considers as uniquely political and designed to prevent him from putting himself forward for the FIFA presidency," the lawyers continued.
There has been no immediate comment from FIFA.
Platini and FIFA president Joseph Blatter face hearings ahead of a final verdict by the ethics committee in connection with a "disloyal payment" Platini received in 2011 for FIFA work done between 1998 and 2002.
Both men protest their innocence and while admitting that there was no written contract, have confirmed there had been a verbal agreement.
Platini aims to become FIFA president in succession of Blatter on February 26 but a ban would end his ambitions.
On Tuesday, Blatter stated in an open letter to FIFA members that he questioned the credibility of the ethics committee which has suspended both he and Platini.