Michel Platini may avoid punishment for awards appearance

UEFA president Michel Platini could avoid punishment from FIFA for attending a football awards ceremony in Dubai even though he is banned from "all activity" within the sport.

Last week the Frenchman was barred from football for eight years for receiving an improper payment of £1.3m from FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who received the same punishment.

Platini has since been pictured at the Globe Soccer Awards, an event organised by the Dubai Sports Council, on Sunday.

When asked about the 60-year-old's appearance at the awards ceremony, FIFA told PA that its disciplinary committee was "monitoring the situation", but would not intervene "for the time being".

Platini and Blatter have both signalled their intentions to appeal the eight-year bans.