FIFA bans ex-chief Blatter from world soccer for 8 years

ZURICH — Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were each banned for eight years by the FIFA ethics committee on Monday in a stunning takedown of world soccer’s most powerful leaders.

FIFA President Blatter and his one-time protege Platini were kicked out of the sport for conflict of interest in a $2 million payment deal that is also the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland.

Blatter’s FIFA career is ending in disgrace after more than 17 years as president and 40 years in total with the scandal-hit governing body.

But his spokesperson told AFP he would appeal the ruling.

Platini’s bid to succeed his former mentor in the February 26 election is now likely over, though both are expected to appeal at the FIFA appeals committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Ethics judges ruled that Blatter broke FIFA Code of Ethics rules on conflicts of interest, breach of loyalty and offering or receiving gifts.

Both denied wrongdoing in 2011 when Platini took $2 million of FIFA money approved by Blatter as uncontracted salary for work as a presidential adviser from 1999-2002.

Blatter was fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($50,250) and Platini, a FIFA vice-president of head of European soccer’s governing body, was fined 80,000 Swiss francs ($80,400).

“Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr. Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment,” the judges said. “By failing to place FIFA’s interests first and abstain from doing anything which could be contrary to FIFA’s interests, Mr. Blatter violated his fiduciary duty to FIFA.”

“His [Blatter’s] assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber,” the ruling read.

Platini, the judges said, “failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities.”

Blatter was scheduled to hold a news conference later Monday