Tuesday 22 December 2015 14:47, UK
Michel Platini has called his eight-year suspension from football a 'kick in the teeth' and has vowed to fight on in his bid to become FIFA president.
The UEFA president also condemned the FIFA ethics committee and said he would battle to clear his name.
On Monday, Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter were banned from all football-related activity over a £1.35m payment made to Platini in 2011 for work carried out between 1999 and 2002.
The Frenchman's ban prevents him standing in the FIFA presidential election on February 26 and working as UEFA president.
"I will fight. But then I'll take my responsibilities according to what happens," Platini told AFP.
On Monday, Platini stated his intention to appeal the FIFA ethics committee's verdict at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
However, FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that Platini would need to appeal firstly to the FIFA appeals committee before potentially going to CAS.
Candidates for the FIFA presidential election must be declared by FIFA on January 26 and Platini acknowledges he may run out of time if the issue is not resolved quickly in his favour.
"What is troubling is that I have no certainty about the timetable ahead. As long as I have not had the reasons for the suspension I cannot appeal before the CAS," he added.
Platini also insisted there was nothing illegal in the oral contract he said was agreed with Blatter, who also denies any wrongdoing. The salary agreement was never disclosed in FIFA documentation until the payment was made in 2011.
"I'm struggling to understand. Why? How did we get to this? I did some work, I asked to be paid, I sent an invoice, I was paid, I paid my taxes on that. That was in 2011," he said.
"There was a debt that was settled, full stop! Then, in 2015, the Swiss court wanted more information.
"Then it took off at FIFA and a lot of people at FIFA are happy that this issue happened.
"And here I am, suspended from all football-related activity for eight years."
Platini repeated his suspicions that the timing of the ban was a deliberate attempt to prevent him from standing in February's election.
"What was the FIFA ethics committee doing between 2011 when I was paid and 2015? Was it sleeping? Suddenly it wakes up," he said.
"Ah yes, it wakes up in a FIFA election year when I'm a candidate. It's amazing!"
Platini also insisted he should not be put into the same bracket as Blatter.
"I'm fighting against this injustice, from one court to another," he said.
"But there you go, in the meantime, my name has been dragged through the mud in the press.
"Whatever happens, my reputation has been sullied, I've been kicked in the teeth: I've been put in the same bag as Blatter."
France's sports minister Patrick Kanner gave his backing to Platini and said the former France international had been treated unfairly.
Kanner told Europe-1 radio: "I regret it because I'm not sure the core [of the case against Platini] was assessed in good conditions.
"I support the president of UEFA, even if he's suspended."
