Platini: It is 'outrageous' that I will not be at 'my child' Euro 2016

Suspended former Uefa president Michel Platini has described his punishment as an "enormous injustice", describing his likely absence from Euro 2016 as "outrageous".

Platini has been handed an eight-year ban, later reduced to six, from all football-related activity by the Fifa Ethics Committee.

World football's governing body ruled a payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.3million) authorised by ex-FIfa counterpart Sepp Blatter to the three-time Ballon d'Or winner constituted multiple infringements of its Code of Ethics.

The ban means Platini is unable to attend the European Championship his country France will host in June, and the disgraced official has revealed his incredulity at the sanction

"The Euro 2016 is my child, but I do not know if I will get there," he told BeIN Sports. "It is unimaginable that I would not be there from its beginning." 

"This is outrageous and it is a huge injustice."

Platini suggested there was an agenda against him ahead of the Fifa presidential elections, which were eventually won by Gianni Infantino.

"There were a lot of people who opposed the idea of my leadership at Fifa," he said. Why? Because I might have changed a lot in the organisation, things people might not have wanted to change.

"Those people made loyalties which is a shame, but that's the way it is."

Platini admitted there were some things he and Blatter did that may have been regrettable, but said overall they could be proud of their legacy in football.

"Blatter was heavily scrutinised and investigated and he may have done some things he should not have, but the same goes for me," he said.

"Overall what he did for football is very good. Football is doing very well now and it is the most popular sport on the planet.

"That is thanks to those who have worked in its institution. They should be thanked."

Platini also commented on new Fifa president Infantino, saying: "He is a different type of president. He is less about the politics and more about the legal aspect of things.

"His priority is not to polish or keep his reputation but to make the organisation more transparent. Now that he is president, there will surely be more transparency in Fifa.

"I have confidence he can do it."