Platini withdraws from race to become FIFA president

Suspended UEFA chief Michel Platini has withdrawn from the race to become FIFA president. He's told the daily L'Equipe that he will concentrate on clearing his name instead. Platini and FIFA President Sepp Blatter were suspended for eight years by FIFA's ethics committee over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million) payment made to Platini in 2011 for work carried out between 1999 and 2002. 60-year-old Platini says the ban has made it impossible for him to have any kind of constructive campaign to take the sport's most powerful job. The deadline for nominations to succeed Sepp Blatter is January 26. The new FIFA president will be revealed on February 26.