Michel Platini still backed by UEFA despite provisional suspension

UEFA's members backed their suspended president Michel Platini at an emergency meeting in Switzerland.

The Frenchman had faced losing the backing of several European football associations in the wake of his £1.3m payment from FIFA president Sepp Blatter as he seeks to become head of world football's governing body.
Outgoing FIFA boss Blatter is under criminal investigation over the payment made in 2011, while Platini has also been questioned. They both deny any wrongdoing and have been suspended for 90 days pending a disciplinary hearing.
UEFA stated on Thursday evening that Platini had been given an extra 30 days to clear his name and that he would continue to push his FIFA presidential candidacy for February's elections.
A UEFA statement said: "We support Michel Platini's right to a due process and a fair trial and to the opportunity to clear his name.
"We strongly call on all instances involved in the current process: FIFA's ethics committee, FIFA's appeal committee and ultimately the Court of Arbitration for Sport to work very rapidly to ensure that there is a final decision on the merits of the case by, at the latest, mid-November 2015."
Some of Europe's 54 members would have demanded answers and assurances over Platini's conduct in Thursday's two meetings.

UEFA president Platini is currently suspended

No written contract for the payment in question, received by Platini for work undertaken for Blatter, was provided to FIFA's ethics committee.
The deadline for nominations for the FIFA presidency is October 26 with elections due to be in February, although there have been reports that a postponement would be discussed at FIFA's emergency meeting on October 20.
UEFA's general secretary Gianni Infantino said it was agreed that the FIFA presidential election on February 26 "cannot and should not be delayed".
He added on Platini: "We need to have a final decision. The rest is speculation, and condemnation without due process and it is a bit unfair."
Infantino also criticised the "leaks" that had come out about the case.
He added: "What's really disappointing is all the leaks coming out. It's not fair that you [the media] know before the person who is accused or suspended. It's not what we call fair process or trial, it just pushes a condemnation without a decision and this is not correct."