In this File Photo, July 25, 2015 file photo UEFA President Michel Platini, left, FIFA vice president Angel Maria Villar Llona attend the preliminary draw for the 2018 soccer World Cup in Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. — AP ZURICH — UEFA defied FIFA's suspension of Michel Platini Thursday when it said he would not be replaced as head of European soccer's governing body and gave him its backing in the appeal process. The Ethics Committee of world soccer body FIFA handed Platini a 90-day provisional ban earlier Thursday at the same time as giving an identical sanction to FIFA President Sepp Blatter. FIFA moved quickly to replace Blatter with interim president Issa Hayatou and announce that Blatter was "relieved of all duties", but UEFA took a very different stance. Under UEFA's rules, if their president is not available to conduct his duties, the highest ranked vice president of the organization takes over but the European body declined to take that step. "The UEFA Executive Committee saw no need, at this moment in time, to invoke Article 29(5) of the UEFA Statutes, this is because the UEFA Executive Committee is aware that the UEFA President will immediately take all necessary steps to appeal the decision (and) to clear his name," a UEFA statement said. "The UEFA Executive Committee expressed its full confidence in UEFA president, Michel Platini and stands fully behind him," the statement said. Platini himself Thursday slammed the "farcical" FIFA ban. "I reject all the allegations that have been made against me," the French football legend said. Without mentioning his bid to take over from Sepp Blatter as FIFA president, Platini said he had received messages of support from many national associations "encouraging me to continue my work serving football's interests". He added: "Nothing will make me give up on that commitment." — Agencies
