Michel Platini's six-year ban for accepting a disloyal payment of €1.7m from Sepp Blatter in 2011 has been cut to four on appeal.
His lawyer said he would now resign as UEFA president after failing to overturn the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"I note today’s decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport but I consider it a profound injustice," Platini said in a statement.
"This decision inflicts a suspension for which the length stops me, de facto, and by luck, from being a candidate in the next FIFA presidential election," he added.
"As agreed with the national associations, I resign as president of FIFA to pursue my fight before the Swiss courts to prove my probity in this case.
"Life has always kept beautiful surprises for me, now I am free to live them."
The court ruled the French football legend was guilty of a conflict of interest for taking the money.
Its judges said they were "not convinced" the payment was legitimate and cited "the absence of any repentance and the impact that this matter has had on FIFA's reputation".
Platini and former FIFA president Mr Blatter were initially banned from football for eight years by world football's governing body over the payment.
It was reduced in December to six years following an initial appeal.
The reduced four-year ban runs beyond his current UEFA mandate, which expires in March 2019.
The French former footballer had said he recognised his long, illustrious career in the game would be over if he lost the appeal.
He has held the position of UEFA boss since 2007, which also gave him FIFA vice president status.
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