My conscience is clear- Platini

***bid farewell to UEFA

Michel Platini

Banned UEFA President Michel Platini on Wednesday insisted his conscience was clear as European football’s governing body prepared to elect his successor at an extraordinary congress in Athens, News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Platini told delegates having been given special permission to address the congress by world governing body FIFA.

“You are going to continue this wonderful mission without me.

“I have a clear conscience, I have not made mistakes and will continue my fight in court,’’ he said.

He was banned from football in connection with a disloyal payment of some 2 million Swiss francs (2 million dollars) he received from then FIFA president Joseph Blatter in 2011.

Platini said that the money was for work done as a FIFA presidential adviser a decade earlier.

Report says the 55 member associations of UEFA will choose between two candidates, Aleksander Ceferin of Slovenia and Michael van Praag of the Netherlands as Platini’s replacement.

“The winner will complete Platini’s third four-year presidential term, which expires in March 2019,’’ UEFA said.