FIFA Hand Blatter, Platini 8-year Bans

The sport’s two most powerful men were banned from the sport for ethics violations, leaving the global game leaderless as it struggles with a swirl of corruption cases.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee chaired by Mr. Hans Joachim Eckert has banned Mr. Joseph S. Blatter, President of FIFA, for eight years and Mr. Michel Platini, Vice President and member of the Executive Committee of FIFA and President of UEFA, for eight years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) on a national and worldwide level”.

“Let us say that I’m really sorry, I’m sorry that I am still somewhere a punching ball, I’m sorry that I am as president of Federation Internationale de Football Association this punching ball”.

World football’s governing body FIFA has been alleged with several wrongdoings over many months which included the arrests of seven FIFA officials in Zurich at the end of May.

The payment in 2011 coincided with Platini’s decision not to challenge Blatter for president.

But it said the transaction had nevertheless lacked transparency and presented a conflict of interest.

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

Despite the ban, both Blatter and Platini will be allowed to attend matches – including Euro 2016 in France – if they buy tickets in a private capacity.

“The decision is no surprise to me”.

“I will fight for me and for Fifa”, Blatter said in a news conference, as reported by BBC.

“It has been rigged to tarnish my name by bodies I know well and who for me are bereft of all credibility or legitimacy”.

He also was fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($50,066), with Platini, 60, fined 80,000 Swiss francs ($80,398).

Uefa said it was disappointed with the ruling and “supports Michel Platini’s right to a due process and the opportunity to clear his name”.

Until his suspension, Platini had been the frontrunner to succeed Blatter at the top of world soccer.

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, Tokyo Sexwale, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Gianni Infantino and Jerome Champagne are the current five candidates to be contesting for the elections.