FIFA: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini handed EIGHT-YEAR ban by FIFA ethics committee

The bans have been imposed by FIFA's ethics committee judge Hans-Joachim Eckert for a "disloyal payment" of 2million Swiss francs [£1.3million] to Platini, signed off by Blatter.

 

The disgraced FIFA president and UEFA chief had claimed the payment had been made in 2011 following a verbal agreement between the pair when Platini for Blatter from 1998 to 2002.

The explanation was rejected as "not convincing" by the ethics committee, who added that the evidence has not been sufficient to secure charges of corruption

Blatter has also been fined 50,000 Swiss francs [£33,700] and Platini 80,000 Swiss francs [£54,000] after being found guilty of ethics code breaches including conflict of interest.

The charges found proven included offering and accepting gifts, conflict of interest, and violating their fiduciary duty to FIFA.

A statement from the ethics committee says: "Mr Blatter's actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA's regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive execution of his position as president of FIFA, hence violating article 13 of the FCE (general rules of conduct)."

It adds: "Mr Platini failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities.

"His actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA's regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive execution of his position as vice-president of FIFA and member of the FIFA executive committee."

Blatter is due to appear at a news conference on Monday morning in Zurich at FIFA's former headquarters. He has already claimed in media interviews that the ethics committee has no power to remove him as president.

Both 79-year-old Blatter and 60-year-old Platini are likely to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but their careers in football politics appear over.

Platini had aimed to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in February's election but those hopes have effectively ended.