Michel Platini has been told he cannot appeal against his eight-year suspension directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport ©Getty Images

Michel Platini's already slim chances of being able to take part in the election to become the next President of FIFA appear to have been ended after he was told he cannot appeal against his eight-year suspension directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The Frenchman had been hoping to bypass the required FIFA appeals procedure as he races to try to overturn his ban before the election in Zurich on February 26. 

FIFA, however, has revealed it has written to Platini’s lawyers to confirm that he can only go to CAS if the governing body’s Appeals Committee first rejects his request.

Platini was banned on Monday (December 21) for eight years, along with Sepp Blatter over a 2011 "disloyal payment" of CHF2 million (£1.3 million/$2.1 million/€1.8 million) that the FIFA Pesident had authorised for the former France captain.

"What is troubling is that I have no certainty about the timetable ahead," the 60-year-old Platini told French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP). 

"As long as I have not had the reasons for the suspension I cannot appeal before the CAS."

Platini has claimed that he is being specially targeted by the FIFA Ethics Committee to ensure he cannot stand to replace Blatter.

The deadline for candidates being allowed to put their name forward is January 26. 

"What was the FIFA Ethics Committee doing between 2011, when I was paid, and 2015?" Platini told AFP.

"Was it sleeping?

"Suddenly it wakes up.

"Ah yes, it wakes up in a FIFA election year when I'm a candidate.

"It's amazing."

Michel Platini is angry he is being treated the same as FIFA President Sepp Blatter ©Getty Images
Michel Platini is angry he is being treated the same as FIFA President Sepp Blatter ©Getty Images

Platini continues to maintain his innocence, claiming that the payment was honouring an agreement made in 1998 for work carried out between that year and 2002, when Platini worked as technical adviser for Blatter. 

The ex-Juventus midfielder, considered one of the greatest players in history, is particularly angry he is being treated the same as Blatter.

Platini was even fined more than Blatter.

He must pay CHF80,000 (£53,900/$80,400/€74,000), Blatter CHF50,000 (£33,700/$50,200/€46,200) 

"My name has been dragged through the mud in the press," he told AFP.

"Whatever happens, my reputation has been sullied, I've been kicked in the teeth - I've been put in the same bag as Blatter."

Platini will also have to give up his role as President of UEFA if he fails to overturn the ban. 

"I'm struggling to understand," he said. 

"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.

"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."