FIFA president Gianni Infantino 'very sad' about Michel Platini ban

FIFA president Gianni Infantino concedes the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to uphold Michel Platini's ban from football is "very sad" for him.

Platini had hoped sport's highest court would quash his six-year ban but the Lausanne-based body only reduced it to four years, effectively ending his career in the game.

But Infantino, who was in Mexico City for his first FIFA Council meeting, insists he has no issues with the outcome, which will see Platini resign as UEFA boss.

Infantino said: "As president, I respect the decision of CAS, no doubt about that. On a personal level, of course, I'm very sad about the decision.

"I've followed Michel for nine years at UEFA, seven as general secretary.

"As UEFA president, he and I did some great things together and, at this moment, I really want to focus on those positive memories."

On a personal level, of course, I'm very sad about the decision.

Infantino only entered the race to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA boss because Platini's ban left UEFA without a candidate.

Platini and Blatter, his former mentor, were initially given eight-year bans by a FIFA ethics committee in December over a £1.3m payment the latter paid the France icon in 2011.

But the bans were reduced to six years by a FIFA appeals panel in February.

The pair have always claimed this was the balance of money Platini was owed since 2002 for consultancy work, and he had agreed to wait for payment until FIFA could better afford it.

But the three-man CAS panel said they could only find evidence for a salary to Platini and noted the payment was made shortly before the contentious 2011 FIFA presidential election that saw Blatter installed for a fourth term.