UEFA presidential election: Michel Platini says “conscience is clear”September 14, 2016 - 12:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former EUFA president Michel Platini said his "conscience is clear" as he spoke to European football's governing body for what is likely to be the last time, BBC Sport said. Platini, 61, was last year banned from football activity for breaching ethics rules over a £1.3m "disloyal payment." Earlier this week, world governing body FIFA gave the Frenchman permission to speak at Wednesday, September 14's meeting in Athens, at which UEFA will elect his successor. "I am certain that I committed not the slightest fault," said Platini. "I am continuing to fight legally. Just simply know that my conscience is clear. "You are going to continue this beautiful mission without me, for reasons that I do not wish to come back on." Uefa will name its new president - either Slovenian FA president Aleksander Ceferin or Dutch FA boss Michael van Praag - later on Wednesday. The ethics committee of world governing body FIFA handed down an initial eight-year ban for Platini and Fifa's then-president Sepp Blatter last year. It related to a payment of 2m Swiss Francs Blatter made to the Frenchman in 2011. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Pashinyan’s spokesperson denies intention to visit Baku for COP29 Pashinyan’s agenda doesn’t include a trip to Baku for the COP29 conference, his press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan has said. Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Armenia: Rescue workers restore pedestrian bridge for flood-hit community Rescue workers on Wednesday, June 5 restored a pedestrian bridge in the town of Alaverdi in Armenia’s north. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. |