Michel Platini is set to appeal the eight-year ban from all football-related activities handed down by the Independent Ethics Committee of FIFA on Monday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), labelling the decision a pathetic cover-up of an aim to remove him from the sport.

Along with FIFA president Sepp Blatter, the UEFA chief was handed a provisional 90-day suspension in October while a payment of two million Swiss francs from world football s governing body to the Frenchman made in 2011 was investigated.

The Independent Ethics Committee ruled on Monday there was not sufficient evidence to support legality of the transfer, with the pair s assertions of an oral agreement dismissed as not convincing , and subsequently imposed eight-year suspensions on the duo.<…

FIFA has banned former South African Football Association (SAFA) official Lindile Kika from football-related activity for six years following an investigation into friendly matches in the country.

The investigation against Kika was opened in 2014 and centred around a number of international friendlies played in South Africa in 2010 the same year the nation hosted the World Cup.

The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert, has banned Lindile Kika, a former official of the South African Football Association (SAFA), from all football-related activities at national and international level for six years, read a FIFA statement.

The ban is effective immediately. The investigation was led by the chairman of the investigatory cha…

Romelu Lukaku is on the other side of the globe and his future is still up in the air.

In Australia for Manchester United s pre-season tour, Lukaku remains a Red Devils player but he is reportedly keen to leave Old Trafford.

Linked to Inter, this could drag on for a while…

TOP STORY – INTER STEP UP LUKAKU CHASE

Inter will travel to England to try to complete a transfer for Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku, Sky Sports reports.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preferring Marcus Rashford up front, €80million-rated Lukaku wants to leave and Inter have emerged as frontrunners to sign the 26-year-old.

Inter officials are due in the UK this week as they step up talks with Manchester United over a deal for Romelu Lukaku, Sky Sp…

Borussia Dortmund missed the chance to move up to second place in the Bundesliga table as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Werder Bremen.

Marco Reus sixth goal in nine Bundesliga games gave Dortmund a 19th-minute lead at the Weser-Stadion, as he reacted quickly inside the penalty area to lash a loose ball into the net.

Yet crucially the in-form attacker who had also scored twice in his side s 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen last weekend failed to take a one-on-one opportunity in the closing minutes of the first half.

Bremen made Reus pay for his profligacy, grabbing an equaliser when Thomas Delaney looped a header over goalkeeper Roman Burki, who was out of position after making a close-range save to deny Maximilian Eggestein.

Dortmund dominated after the br…

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been charged with acting in an improper manner following his red card at Newcastle on Sunday.

The Netherlands international was dismissed for a foul on Alexander Isak in the first half of Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at St James’ Park but the centre-back initially refused to leave the pitch and then remonstrated with referee John Brooks.

That earned him an automatic one-match ban against Aston Villa this weekend but the suspension could be increased, which could see him sit out the trip to Wolves also.

— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson)

“Virgil van Dijk has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following Liverpool’s Premier League game against Newcastle United on Sunday, 27 August,” read a state…

Manchester City have been linked with Erling Haaland.

As Sergio Aguero appears headed for an exit, Pep Guardiola wants to bolster his attack.

But Danny Ings has reportedly emerged as an alternative to the expensive and in-demand Haaland.

TOP STORY – CITY TARGET INGS

Manchester City are considering a move for Southampton star Danny Ings, according to Sky Sports.

City s all-time leading goalscorer Sergio Aguero is out of contract at the end of the season and no closer to extending his deal in Manchester.

Pep Guardiola s City are reportedly among the admirers of Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland, who has also been linked with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Juventus…

Manchester City grabbed the early headlines on transfer deadline day as they completed the signing of Matheus Nunes from Wolves.

After overcoming some minor sticking points in final negotiations over an initial £47.3m deal on Wednesday night, both clubs were able to come to an agreement on a £53million move – a club-record sale for Wolves.

The 25-year-old Portugal international was keen to move to the Etihad Stadium and did not train with Wolves in order to push the move through.

— Manchester City (@ManCity)

Nunes told the club’s official website: “I’m so happy to be joining Manchester City, the champions of Europe and a club I’ve admired for a long time.

“The opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest …

Mathys Tel stole Harry Kane’s thunder as he came off the bench to head Bayern Munich to a hard-fought Bundesliga victory at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Former Tottenham striker Kane failed to find the back of the net in the league for the first time in three starts for his new club on a night when they had to come from behind to win 2-1 at Borussia Park.

Ko Itakura had headed the home side into a first-half lead, but an inspirational Leroy Sane levelled after the break to set the stage for Tel to win it at the death and preserve the reigning champions’ perfect start despite the heroics of debutant Monchengladbach keeper Moritz Nicolas.

The visitors started strongly with Kane and Leon Goretzka threatening from a series of early corners and as the England captain…

The left-winger has played more top-flight games for Malaga than any other player and his signing will be a relief after the likes of Isco, Joaquin and Manuel Iturra departed in the off-season.

And the 33-year-old plans to spend the rest of his career at the La Liga club.

I m so happy. I always wanted to be able to retire at Malaga, he told the club s official website.

I m so pleased my contract has been renewed. Both parties reached an agreement, that we re both pleased with.

I hope to end my career here, having played at this club for 13 seasons, which isn t easy, but we ve helped each other out a lot over the years.

My family and friends are happy I m staying here, and now I m going to focus on enjoying being at Malaga.

The Portugal international de…

Patrice Evra has been summoned by French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet and coach Didier Deschamps after slamming his critics.

The Manchester United left-back labelled French football pundits as bums and parasites on Sunday and claimed they are lying to France with their criticism.

Former France internationals Bixente Lizarazu and Luis Fernandez in particular bore the brunt of Evra’s frustration in an interview on TF1 show Telefoot.

And the FFF has reacted by releasing a statement on their website revealing they will meet with Evra to seek an explanation for his comments.

Following his remarks in an interview with Telefoot Noel Le Graet and Didier Deschamps have decided to ask Patrice Evra to come and explain some comments he made towards some TV p…