Football shamed as FIFA BANS Blatter and Platini for eight years over £1.34m scandal

Sepp Blatter (right) and Michel Platini have been banned from football for eight years

 

SEPP BLATTER and Michel Platini have been banned from football for eight years.

 

FIFA president Blatter was found to have authorised a payment of £1.34million to UEFA president Platini in 2011.

Both men were suspended for 90 days as FIFA's ethics committee investigated the payment.

"I am suspended eight years but I will fight for me and I will fight for Fifa. I am suspended eight years for what?" Blatter said.

"I am not ashamed. I regret but I am not ashamed.

"I am ashamed about the committee's decision - and that they don't go to the evidence. I tell you they have no right to go against the president. The president of Fifa can only be relieved of his activities by the Fifa congress. 

"At the next congress, the 27 February, before the election of the new president, even suspended I am president and the president must be first relieved of his duties.

"I am a man of principles. I repeat: Never take money you have not earned, pay your debts. Now they are telling me that I tried to buy through Michel Platini, votes for the 2011 elections. No."

 

A FIFA statement read: "The proceedings against Mr Blatter primarily related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000 (£1.34m) transferred in February 2011 from FIFA to Mr Platini. 

"Mr Blatter, in his position as President of FIFA, authorised the payment to Mr Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999. 

"Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment. His assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber."

 

Blatter, 79, had already announced he would step down from his position in world football's governing body and confirmed he will appeal his suspension.

FIFA will stage their new presidential elections in February next year, ending Blatter's 18-year reign.

Platini, 60, was hoping to run in the elections after eight years in charge of UEFA - European football's governing body.

In addition to his ban, Platini has been fined almost £54,000, while FIFA fined Blatter just under £33,700.