The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on Friday maintained a 90-day suspension from international football against Michel Platini, in a new blow to the Frenchman's hopes of entering the FIFA presidential race. The CAS panel "determined that maintaining the provisional suspension for the remainder of the 90 days does not cause irreparable harm to Michel Platini at this point in time, ” a court statement said.

Platini, the head of Europe's UEFA confederation and a FIFA vice president, had been considered favourite to take over as the world body's leader until he was named in a Swiss criminal investigation.

FIFA suspended Platini and FIFA president Sepp Blatter for 90 days shortly after.

CAS noted that even if the ban were lifted, there was no guarantee that FIFA's ethics committee would confirm Platini as a candidate in the FIFA race.

CAS however ordered FIFA not to extend the provisional suspension.