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Berlin - Michel Platini should resign as UEFA president as soon as possible to fill the leadership vacuum within European football's governing body, the boss of the German FA has suggested.
Reinhard Rauball, the interim president of the German FA (DFB), says Platini should stand down now so his replacement can be discussed and voted on at the next UEFA congress in Budapest on May 3.
"Currently, UEFA doesn't have a leader in either of the two most important positions: Platini is suspended and the former general secretary Gianni Infantino is now at FIFA," Rauball told magazine Sport Bild.
"In the summer, the European championships will take place and a lot of things need to be prepared and agreed.
"I think it is urgent that there is a discussion about an alternative (president) in terms of the congress in May.
"One has to distinguish between the personal interests of Platini and the capacity to function of UEFA, which is a venture worth billions."
On Wednesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne confirmed that Platini had launched an appeal against the six-year ban handed both to him and ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter over a two million dollar payment made by football's governing body to the Frenchman.
He has also asked the CAS to give a decision before the European Championships in France, which would enable him to attend if he is successful.
Platini's deputy at UEFA, Gianni Infantino, won the election for the FIFA presidency on Friday and Platini hopes to keep his post at UEFA if he can win his appeal.
