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

UEFA president Michel Platini talks about Sepp Blatter during a press conference on May 29, 2015
© Getty Images
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.

Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter at a press conference after he was banned from all football activity for eight years on December 21, 2015
Read Next:
Blatter to appeal six-year football ban
>
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester372311367353280
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs371913568303870
3Arsenal371911761362568
4Manchester CityMan City371981070403065
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd371891046341263
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham371614764491562
7Southampton371791155401560
8Liverpool3716111062491359
9Chelsea371213125852649
10Stoke CityStoke37139153954-1548
11Swansea CitySwansea371210154151-1046
12Everton371014135655144
13Watford37128173848-1044
14Crystal Palace37119173847-942
15West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom371012153347-1442
16Bournemouth37119174464-2042
17Sunderland37911174660-1438
RNewcastle UnitedNewcastle37810193964-2534
RNorwich CityNorwich3797213964-2534
RAston Villa3738262772-4517
LIVE SCORES VIDEPRINTER
expand