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UEFA’s ex-chief Platini detained for questioning as a witness, not arrested

Earlier, media reports emerged that he was placed in custody on Tuesday as part of an investigation into alleged corruption during the bidding process to host the 2022 World Cup

Michel Platini EPA-EFE/RADEK PIETRUSZKA

Michel Platini

© EPA-EFE/RADEK PIETRUSZKA

MOSCOW, June 18. /TASS/. Former President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Michel Platini was detained earlier in the day only to be questioned as a witness and this was not an arrest, his spokesman Jean-Christophe Alquier told TASS.

According to earlier media reports, Platini was placed in custody on Tuesday as part of an investigation into alleged corruption during the bidding process to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

"Michel Platini, who was already questioned last year within the frames of the same investigation, is being questioned today in custody solely for technical reasons," Alquier told TASS.

"His lawyer William Bourdon has particularly stressed that this is not an arrest, but the questioning of a witness as it has been requested by investigators, because it will help to avoid a possibility for other persons involved in the process to come to agreements beyond the frames of the investigation," Alquier stated adding that "he [Platini] is absolutely confident in the investigation."

The spokesman for the 63-year-old football executive also said that Platini answered questions regarding the selection of France as the host country for the 2016 UEFA Euro Cup.

"Michel Platini is behaving calmly, answers all questions, including about the bidding process of the 2016 Euro Cup and he provided useful explanations in this regard," Alquier added.

In early October 2015, then-President of FIFA Sepp Blatter and Platini were both suspended for the 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 to UEFA President Platini in February 2011.

The adjudicatory chamber of the independent FIFA Ethics Committee held hearings into corruption charges on December 17 and 18, 2016 in regard to Blatter and Platini respectively, and on December 21, 2016 they were both suspended for the period of 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).

Later, FIFA Appeal Committee ruled to roll back the suspension sentences for Platini and Blatter from eight to six years.

Platini appealed his suspension with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and in May 2016 the Swiss-based court ruled to reduce his suspension term from six to four years, which means that the ban expires in the autumn of this year.

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