FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA Boss Michel Platini have been suspended for eight years from all football-related activities following an ethics investigation. Both were found guilty of breaches surrounding a £1.3m ($2m) "disloyal payment" made to Platini in 2011.
The Fifa ethics committee found Blatter and Platini had demonstrated an "abusive execution" of their positions.
"I will fight for me and for Fifa," Blatter, 79, said at a just concluded news conference.
The bans come into force immediately. Swiss Blatter and 60-year-old Frenchman Platini have also been fined £33,700 ($40,000) and £54,000 ($80,000) respectively. Both men continue to deny wrongdoing and a spokesman for Blatter confirmed he will appeal against the ban and is prepared to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. Platini is expected to do the same.
FIFA boss since 1998, Blatter had already announced he was quitting with a presidential election in February. Platini was tipped as a future leader of football's world governing body and is a three-time European Footballer of the Year. He is also a former captain of France and has been in charge of UEFA - European football's governing body - since 2007.
- Blatter - 'I Will Fight'
Blatter was in defiant mood at a news conference he had called in advance of the punishments being made public. Sepp Blatter:
"The committee has no right to go against the president" "I will fight," he said. "I will fight for me and for Fifa."
He said he was "really sorry" that he is still "a punching ball" and that he has become tainted in the eyes of humanity. He added that he thought he had convinced the FIFA ethics tribunal that the payment from FIFA to Platini was legitimate. He plans to appeal, first to FIFA, then CAS. He may also take legal action under Swiss law if needed.
- Why Are They Banned?
Blatter and Platini were found guilty of ethics code breaches over the "disloyal payment". Both claimed the payment was honoring an agreement made in 1998 for work carried out between 1998 and 2002 when Platini worked as a technical adviser for Blatter.
The payment was not part of Platini's written contract but the pair insisted it was a verbal agreement, which is legal under Swiss law. German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, the chairman of FIFA's adjudicatory chamber, held disciplinary hearings for the pair last week. Charges included conflict of interest, false accounting and non co-operation, with investigators submitting a file of more than 50 pages.
- Statement - Key Points
- The payment made in February 2011 had "no legal basis" in the contract signed by both men when Platini started working for Blatter on 25 August, 1999.
- Both men's explanation that there was an "oral agreement" over the payment was rejected as "not convincing".
- Blatter's actions did not show "commitment to an ethical attitude", and both men were found to be in "a conflict of interest".
- Platini also failed to act with "complete credibility and integrity" and showed "unawareness of the importance of his duties".
- The committee said there was "not sufficient evidence" to establish the payment was a bribe, but both men demonstrated an "abusive execution" of their positions.
- What Will Platini Do?
He boycotted his hearing in Zurich on Friday in protest, claiming a decision already appeared to have been made. His lawyers attended, but it looks as though the Frenchman is preparing to take the matter to CAS.
In the meantime, UEFA has issued a statement, revealing it is "extremely disappointed" with the decision. It added: "Once again, UEFA supports Michel Platini's right to a due process and the opportunity to clear his name."
- What Now For FIFA?
World football's governing body has been in turmoil for several months, following numerous allegations of corruption. Seven FIFA officials were arrested at a Zurich hotel at the end of May. And US authorities have charged 39 football officials and sports business executives over more than £134m ($200m) in bribes for football television and marketing deals.
Swiss prosecutors are also investigating FIFA's management as well as the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. There is also pressure from governments and the International Olympic Committee for FIFA to push through major reforms aiming at making governance more transparent and accountable.
- Who Will Be The Next FIFA Boss?
The presidential election is due to take place on 26 February. There are currently five candidates to take over:
- Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa - 50, Bahrain, president of Asian Football Confederation;
- Tokyo Sexwale - 62, South Africa, politician, businessman and former political prisoner;
- Prince Ali bin al-Hussein - 39, Jordan, a former FIFA vice-president and 2015 FIFA presidential candidate;
- Gianni Infantino - 45, Switzerland, UEFA general secretary and a member of FIFA's reform committee;
- Jerome Champagne - 57, France, a former FIFA assistant general secretary and former French diplomat.
Voting is reported to take place by secret ballot, with all FIFA's 209 member states having a vote each.
Source
BBC
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