European football governing body UEFA could hold its presidential election to replace Michel Platini before Euro 2016 which holds in France this June, officials have said.
They, however, pointed out on Friday that this is possible if the Frenchman’s appeal against his six-year ban is decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in time.
Platini was banned by FIFA’s Ethics Committee in December and this week he took his case to CAS, sport’s highest tribunal.
UEFA has, however, said it will not hold a presidential election until the appeal process has been exhausted.
“Whenever there is a (CAS) decision, we can hold immediately a meeting of the executive committee.
“We can go through an accelerated process for an election,” acting general secretary Theodore Theodoridis told reporters.
UEFA’s legal director Alasdair Bell said it was no longer necessary for candidates to register three months before the election.
“After we have the (CAS) decision, we can shorten the time for the election from three months to nil. So, it’s possible,” he said.
The European Championship will be held in France from June 10 to July 10.
