GENEVA (AP) – Fighting for their careers in soccer politics, Michel Platini plans to boycott his hearing at the FIFA ethics court on Friday while Sepp Blatter is expected to attend his on Thursday.
Platini is protesting the hearing because he believes his case has been pre-judged, his lawyers said Wednesday in a statement.
Although FIFA investigators have asked for a life ban, Platini could escape with a ban of several years – a result that would still effectively exile him and end his FIFA presidential ambitions.
“By this decision Michel Platini means to express his deepest indignation with a process he regards as solely political and intended to prevent him from standing for the FIFA presidency,” the former France great’s lawyers said.
Less than 90 minutes earlier, FIFA ethics committee judges had promised Platini a fair trial even if he carried out the threat to snub the hearing.