Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/678126
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 11 MAY 2016 20 PLATINI had hoped sport's highest court would quash his six-year ban but the Lausanne- based body only reduced it to four years, effectively ending his career in the game. But Infantino, who was in Mex- ico City for his first FIFA Council meeting, insists he has no issues with the outcome, which will see Platini resign as UEFA boss. Infantino said: "As president, I respect the decision of CAS, no doubt about that. On a person- al level, of course, I'm very sad about the decision. "I've followed Michel for nine years at UEFA, seven as general secretary. "As UEFA president, he and I did some great things together and, at this moment, I really want to focus on those positive memo- ries." Infantino only entered the race to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA boss because Platini's ban left UEFA without a candidate. Platini and Blatter, his for- mer mentor, were initially given eight-year bans by a FIFA ethics committee in December over a £1.3m payment the latter paid the France icon in 2011. But the bans were reduced to six years by a FIFA appeals panel in February. The pair have always claimed this was the balance of money Platini was owed since 2002 for consultancy work, and he had agreed to wait for payment until FIFA could better afford it. But the three-man CAS panel said they could only find evi- dence for a salary to Platini and noted the payment was made shortly before the contentious 2011 FIFA presidential election that saw Blatter installed for a fourth term. Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Infantino 'very sad' over CAS decision to uphold Platini ban Bayern swoop for Sanches, Hummels in strong show of intent FIFA president Gianni Infantino concedes the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to uphold Michel Platini's ban from football is "very sad" for him Michel Platini and Gianni Infantino during their time with UEFA SANCHES, the 18-year-old Ben- fica and Portugal midfielder, was confirmed as the club's first sum- mer signing for an initial 35mil- lion euros (£27.5m). And just minutes later, the long- awaited deal for Hummels was announced by both Bayern and Dortmund. The 27-year-old has signed a five-year deal, subject to a medical, after the club agreed an undisclosed fee reported as 38m euros (£30m). Hummels made the switch from Bayern to Dortmund in 2008 hav- ing made only one first-team ap- pearance for the Bavarian side, and has since established himself as a key man for club and country. "We're delighted that Mats Hummels has decided to join Bay- ern," said Bayern's chairman Karl- Heinz Rummenigge on his club's website. "Mats is one of the best central defenders in the world and we're able to improve the quality of our team even further with him." Hummels had informed Dort- mund recently of his desire to leave them this summer, a year before his contract in Westphalia was due to expire, and return to Munich. But he told the club's website: "This was not an easy decision for me after eight and a half success- ful years with BVB. "I was always proud and still am to wear the BVB shirt and to be part of this extraordinary team." Hummels' current and future employers meet in the final of the DFB-Pokal on May 21 and he stressed he remains committed to Dortmund. "Before I return to my home city in the summer, we still have the huge, mutual goal of bringing the DFB-Pokal back to Dortmund and celebrating a huge festival of foot- ball with the BVB fans," he said. "I and my team-mates will give everything for that." Hummels follows Robert Le- wandowski and Mario Gotze in leaving Dortmund for Bayern in recent seasons. Dortmund host Cologne on Sat- urday in their final league game of the season and general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke has ap- pealed to his club's fans to back rather than barrack their depart- ing captain. "I would like to stress that Mats behaved very openly and fairly to- wards us at all times," he said. "Mats won two Bundesliga titles with BVB, and the double in 2012. He reached the final of the Cham- pions League with us in 2013 and became world champion in 2014 while a Dortmund player. "We respect Mats' decision and hope that, both for him and BVB, he receives the recognition during his last few weeks for the Black-and-Yellows that he de- serves, and that he leaves Dort- mund with the DFB-Pokal in his hands." The deal for Sanches, mean- while, includes an eye-watering 45million euros in potential add- ons. The 18-year-old impressed during the two teams' Champi- ons League quarter-final tie and Bayern have reached an agree- ment which the Portuguese club said could rise to 80million euros (£63million) if certain goals were achieved. Sanches has signed a five-year contract in Munich after passing a medical on Monday. "Bayern have been watching Renato Sanches for a long time," said Rummenigge. "We're pleased that we have been able to sign him, despite competition from some big clubs. "Renato is a dynamic midfielder who is strong in the tackle and technically gifted, and he is going to strengthen our team further." Although he will not be his coach next season, ceding the Bayern reins to Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern coach Pep Guardiola has also spoken highly of the 18-year- old. "He's by far and away one of the best young players in Europe," he said. "He's got a lot of quality and personality, and he runs a lot. He's got a great future ahead of him." Sanches made his debut for the senior Portugal national team in March and has played 24 league games for Benfica this season, in addition to making six appear- ances in the Champions League. Bayern Munich have announced the double signing of Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels and reported Manchester United target Renato Sanches Renato Sanches Mats Hummels