TheCable

The Union of European Football Association (UEFA) will have to look for a new leader as Michel Platini announced his resignation on Monday, saying he wants to “pursue my fight before the Swiss courts to prove my probity”.

Platini resignation came after  he lost his appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne.

CAS in Lausanne trimmed Platini’s sentence from six years to four years, but maintained the charges of financial misconduct brought against him by FIFA.

Similarly, his fine was cut to SFr60.000, according to worldsoccer.com.

“I note today’s decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport but I consider it a profound injustice,” Platini said in a statement.

“This decision inflicts a suspension for which the length stops me, de facto, and by luck, from being a candidate in the next FIFA presidential election.

“As agreed with the national associations, I resign as president of UEFA to pursue my fight before the Swiss courts to prove my probity in this case. Life has always kept beautiful surprises for me, now I am free to live them.”

In December, FIFA’s ethics committee suspended the former French football star from all football activities for eight year, over his alleged acceptance of a 2 million Swiss France ‘disloyal payment’ from FIFA, on the authority of Sepp Blatter, the immediate past president of FIFA.