CAS order makes it bitter-sweet day for UEFA chief Platini

CAS orders FIFA not to extend his 90-day provisional suspension but will not be allowed to attend the Euro 2016 draw 

The independent Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday ordered FIFA not to extend its 90-day provisional suspension on European football chief Michel Platini, saying doing so would be an unjustified restriction of his access to justice.

CAS, which seeks to settle sports-related disputes, left the existing suspension in force until it expires on Jan. 5, on the grounds that it does not cause irreparable harm, according to a CAS statement.

"However, the CAS panel considered that the situation would change if FIFA were to extend the provisional suspension for any period up to 45 days, on the basis of 'exceptional circumstances,' " it said.

In another development, Platini failed to get his 90-day provisional suspension from football field lifted after the Court of Arbitration for Sport denied his appeal.

As a result of the ruling, the Frenchman would not be allowed to attend the Euro 2016 draw in Paris on Saturday, the Guardian reported.

Besides him, FIFA president Sepp Blatter was also handed a provisional ban by the FIFA's Ethics Committee over claims that Platini had received a 'disloyal payment' of 1.35 million pounds from the outgoing FIFA president in 2011.

Platini and Blatter will also attend a hearing with ethics committee judge Hans-Joachim Eckert next week, wherein it would be decided whether the request for lifetime bans on both men should be applied.

However, both Blatter and Platini have maintained their verbal contract was legal under Swiss law.

Platini could stand to replace Blatter as next president only if his ban ends before the election date of 26 February. 

Image: UEFA President Michel Platini speaks to the media

Photograph: Denis/Balibouse