UEFA to seek new President post Michel Platini era with elections set for September 14

IANS
UEFA Theodore Theodoridis
UEFA interim General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis speaks to the press ahead 

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will hold the election for its new president on September 14 in Athens, its vice president Grigoriy Surkis said on Wednesday.

"The election will take place on September 14 in Athens," Surkis said. "All candidates running for the presidency must submit their applications before July 20."

Former French footballer Michel Platini has been at the helm of UEFA since 2007.

In early October last year, Platini and then-president of world football body Sepp Blatter were both suspended for a period of 90 days from their posts as part of the investigation into corruption allegations against them.

Among a number of corruption allegations, Blatter was suspected of a disloyal payment of 2 million Swiss francs (around $2.03 million) to UEFA president Platini in February 2011.

Also read: Michel Platini doesn't deserve such long suspension from football, says Russian Sports Minister

The adjudicatory chamber of the independent ethics committee of FIFA held hearings into corruption charges on December 17 and 18, in regard to Blatter and Platini respectively, and on December 21 they were both suspended for eight years from all football-related activities.

The ethics committee also subjected both of the football executives to financial fines, obliging Blatter to pay 50,000 Swiss francs (over $50,300) and Platini 80,000 Swiss francs (over $80,500).

Platini’s suspension reduced

On March 2, FIFA's appeal committee ruled to reduce the suspension sentences for Platini and Blatter from eight to six years.

Following the appeal committee's ruling Platini submitted an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne.

On May 9, CAS announced its verdict reducing the suspension term of Platini from six to four years and cutting the earlier imposed fine from 80,000 to 60,000 Swiss francs.

Following the verdict from the CAS, Platini announced his plans to resign from the post of the UEFA president.