FIFA: "Michel Platini was not equipped to face this, unlike us politicians" (François Hollande)

"Michel Platini said, 'All is well. I have what I need: a lawyer and a communications adviser' In fact, he was not equipped to face this, unlike us politicians, who are used to rolling with the punches," said François Hollande, President of France, during a working lunch organised at the Palais d'Elysee with "big names in sport", on 19/01/2016.

The head of state, whose remarks were reported by the French daily Le Parisien on 24/01/2016, spoke to Michel Platini on the phone early on in the case that forced the former footballer to withdraw, on 07/01/2016, his candidacy for the election of the next FIFA president, scheduled on 26/01/2016. Michel Platini was suspended for eight years from any activity in football by the FIFA Ethics Committee on 21/12/2015. Reasons: "conflict of interest" and "mismanagement" because of a controversial payment of 2 million Swiss francs (€1.54m at the time of payment), on 01/02/2011, concerning his role as an advisor to Joseph Blatter, president of FIFA, from 1999 to 2002.

"The UEFA Executive Committee decided there will be no UEFA presidential election…