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 Platini was banned for eight years in December along with FIFA
president Sepp Blatter over a payment of two million Swiss francs
($2.03 million) made to the Frenchman in 2011 by FIFA with Blatter's
approval for work done a decade earlier.
"It's been a very good hearing, very well conducted, with people who
have been sincere," Platini said after the hearing by FIFA's Appeal
Committee. "I am quite happy with the way it has gone.
"I hope to work again as soon as possible, go back to the office as
soon as the decision has been given by the Appeal Committee and then
prepare the Euro (tournament)," he told reporters after an
eight-hour hearing at the headquarters of soccer's world ruling
body. "There are important things to do.
"I am waiting to come back to work on this great football party...
which will take place in France," he added, referring to the 24-team
Euro 2016 finals being held from June 10-July 10.
FIFA's Ethics Committee, which imposed the bans on Blatter and
Platini in December, said the payment, made at a time when the
former was seeking re-election, lacked transparency and presented
conflicts of interest.
Both men have denied any wrongdoing and Blatter's appeal will be
held on Tuesday. They can take their cases to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport if they lose their appeals.
Platini arrived at FIFA on foot from a nearby hotel and left driving
a black car. As he drove out of the building, he hooted and called
over reporters who had been waiting for him at a different gate.
Relaxed and cheerful, he stood by his car and answered questions for
about 10 minutes as sleet fell steadily.
IMPORTANT EVIDENCE
Platini, who said the FIFA payment to him was made following a
verbal agreement, noted that Jacques Lambert, head of the Euro 2016
organizing committee, and FIFA executive committee member Angel
Maria Villar had given important evidence on his behalf.
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"I can't tell you if it worked but evidence provided by Jacques
Lambert and Angel Villar was very important," he said.
He added that his case hinged on whether the committee accepted his
argument that the payment was part of a verbal agreement.
"I would never (have) asked for (the payment) if they had paid me
before," he said. "I trusted Mr Blatter to pay me as quickly as
possible, but he didn't do it, so at some point I had to ask for the
payment but it was nine years later.
"I didn't have a problem with that, I trusted him."
Platini had been favorite to win the FIFA election on Feb. 26 before
he was banned. He is now focusing on returning to the UEFA
presidency.
"Yes I will have an eye, maybe two eyes, on the FIFA election. There
are two favorites," he said, referring to UEFA general secretary
Gianni Infantino and Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa of
Bahrain.
"Gianni is the person that I trained over the past few years, Sheikh
Salman is a friend and... it is difficult to back one of them
publicly."
(Writing by Brian Homewood, editing by Ed Osmond and Ken Ferris)
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