Michel Platini fires back against FIFA suspension and Sepp Blatter

UEFA president Michel Platini has been suspended by FIFA for the next three months and faces a much longer ban for receiving payments in 2011 from Sepp Blatter that were deemed “disloyal” to FIFA’s ethics committee. Instead of cowering and hiding, though, he thinks he’s got a very good explanation for everything -- even if Blatter is “trying to kill [him] politically.“

The payments, Platini claims, were paid for services rendered when Platini served as a technical adviser to Blatter from 1999 to 2002. He makes the agreement sounds nice and easy and fair -- but he’s still failed to address why it took nine years to get paid. That still seems incredibly odd.

You can’t fault Platini for his self-confidence, though, saying that he is “the only one who can ensure that FIFA again becomes the home of football.” Of course, it never really stopped being the home of football, but the home’s foundation is getting a little rickety.

This defense-gutting run and finish from Atletico Madrid attacker Antoine Griezmann was really fun.

State prosecutors in Germany are looking into bribery allegations regarding the country’s winning bid to host the 2006 World Cup. (Guardian)

Former Manchester United stars Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs are letting a group of homeless people winter in a hotel they’re going to be renovating next spring. (BBC)

Carlo Ancelotti claims that, despite reports to the contrary, Liverpool never approached him during their managerial search. (ESPN FC)

It took Napoli a month to get their first win, but now they’re a favorite to win Serie A. (Guardian)

Sergio Ramos should be fit to start for Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday (Marca)

Michael Cox explains how Raheem Sterling is becoming a world-class player right in front of our eyes. (ESPN FC)

Here’s a recap of Saturday’s Premier League action.

Newcastle got four goals from Georginio Wijnaldum en route to a 6-2 thrashing of Norwich City. (Coming Home Newcastle)

Napoli beat Serie A-leading Fiorentina 2-1 with two second-half goals. (The Siren’s Song)

The Derby d’Italia ended 0-0 as Inter Milan and Juventus played each other to a standstill. (Black & White & Read All Over)

Neymar exploded for four goals for Barcelona in a 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano (Barca Blaugranes)

Bayern Munich set a record for consecutive wins to start a Bundesliga season in their 1-0 triumph over Werder Bremen (Bavarian Football Works)

Real Madrid bounced back from recent struggle with a 3-0 win over Levante. (Managing Madrid)

EPL: Swansea City vs. Stoke City (3 p.m.): While these two teams may not normally be headline-grabbers in the EPL, both sides have been quietly very good this season. Seeing what they do head-to-head could be quite fun.