FA suspends support for Michel Platini's FIFA presidential candidacy

Image: Michel Platini has been suspended from all football-related activities for 90 days

The Football Association has suspended its support for Michel Platini's bid for the FIFA presidency.

As recently as September 30, FA chairman Greg Dyke reiterated his association's backing for Platini, despite him being questioned in relation to criminal proceedings opened against FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

FIFA subsequently suspended Blatter and Platini from all football-related activity for 90 days and Dyke told Sky Sports News HQ last week the FA would reconsider its stance.

And, following a UEFA meeting on Thursday, the FA says it has learned unpublished details of Platini's case and has therefore withdrawn its support indefinitely.

"The FA supports the statement issued by UEFA on Thursday 15 October concerning the ethics case against Michel Platini," the governing body said in a statement.

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"This statement expressed respect for the significant work performed by Mr Platini at UEFA, requested that he be afforded due process in contesting the charges, and encouraged the relevant bodies involved to reach a final decision on the merits of the case by mid-November.

"The FA wishes Mr Platini every success in fighting these charges and clearing his name, and has no interest in taking any action that jeopardises this process.

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"However, notwithstanding the above, at the UEFA meeting on Thursday, the FA learned more information relating to the issues at the centre of this case from Mr Platini's lawyers. 

"We have been instructed that the information must be kept confidential and therefore we cannot go into specifics.

"As a result of learning this information, the FA board has on Friday morning concluded that it must suspend its support for Mr Platini's candidature for the FIFA presidency until the legal process has been concluded and the position is clear.

"A decision can then be taken on who to support in the presidential election on February 26, 2016."

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