UEFA wants swift resolution to Michel Platini's ongoing suspension

Photo credit:- UEFA.com

General secretary Gianni Infantino says Uefa's Executive
Committee wants a swift resolution to Michel Platini's
ongoing suspension, but maintained the organisation is
functioning properly without the president.

Platini was banned in early October by Fifa's Ethics
Committee along with outgoing Fifa president Sepp
Blatter over an alleged "disloyal payment" apparently made
to the Frenchman in 2011.

Both men deny any wrongdoing but Platini saw his appeal
against the sanction rejected by the Court of Arbitration for
Sport (CAS) on Friday.

Platini was therefore absent from Uefa's Executive
Committee meeting in Paris on the same day and remains
unable to have his Fifa candidacy ratified - unlike
presidential hopeful Infantino.

"I think that it's not the time now to participate in
speculation," explained Infantino, who also confirmed
an Executive Committee congress for February 25 in Zurich -
a day before Fifa's elections.

"I mentioned the date we have fixed for the Extraordinary
Congress so this will go on as planned. Uefa is functioning
and the ExCo has taken note of the [Platini] decision. It
hopes and wishes that process will be swift and fast, it
supports Platini's right to process and trial and the
opportunity to clear his name.

"In any case, Uefa is running well and as far as Platini is
concerned there is a procedure ongoing and we have to wait
for outcome.

"Obviously it's difficult and complicated for Michel and for
the institution but Uefa is strong and Michel is strong so we
have to move ahead.

"I'm not here as a Fifa candidate, I'm here as
general secretary. I am standing and will stand until the end,
but we will see how things develop. My candidacy has been
supported by the Executive Committee of Uefa as had been
the case.

"Nothing has changed. With regards the case of Michel
Platini, we will have to wait a little longer."

Platini's provisional 90-day suspension lasts until January 5,
2016 and cannot be extended, CAS ruled, with Infantino
quizzed on the possible need to appoint a successor at
either the Extraordinary Congress or the Ordinary Congress
in May.

"It's too early to make speculation. Uefa will be ready for
any situation and be ready for difficult situations," he added.

"We have to look at what's happening without overreacting.

Patience is the virtue of the strong and we need to follow
what's going on, there is a legal procedure and we have to
follow it.

"We have fixed our agenda and we can take quick
decisions when there is a need but not before that."