UEFA has stressed that it remains "fully behind" boss Michel Platini, despite the Frenchman being handed a 90-day ban from all football activity.
The European governing body has called an emergency meeting to be held in Nyon next week following the latest twist in the FIFA corruption saga.
Platini has been in charge of UEFA since 2007 and was a strong contender to replace Sepp Blatter as president of scandal-hit FIFA in next year's elections.
However, today's verdict is likely to have a major say in Platini's choice to run, although UEFA says that the decision made by world football's ethics committee will be appealed against.
"The UEFA executive committee saw no need, at this moment in time, to invoke Article 29(5) of the UEFA statutes, pursuant to which the highest-ranking vice-president of UEFA may step in to assume the powers and duties of the president in his absence," a statement read.
"This is because the UEFA executive committee is aware that the UEFA president will immediately take all necessary steps to appeal the decision of the FIFA ethics committee to clear his name.
"Furthermore, the UEFA executive committee stated that there must be a very rapid final decision on this matter before the relevant bodies, in the interests of both justice and football. Finally, the UEFA executive committee expressed its full confidence in UEFA president, Michel Platini, and stands fully behind him."
Blatter was also handed a 90-day ban, while former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-Joon has been suspended for six years.
Daniel Lewis
