FIFA ethics court bans Blatter, Platini for 8 years

Barring a surprise, both men will be banned by Federation Internationale de Football Association. In an October interview with the Swiss TV station RROTV, Blatter described the payment to Platini as part of a “gentleman’s agreement”.

A statement by the court said both showed “abusive execution” of their powers.

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

The pair had disciplinary hearings before FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert in Zurich Thursday and Friday over a $2 million payment made to Platini in 2011 by world football’s governing body and signed off by Blatter.

On Monday, Mr Blatter and Mr Platini, the suspended Uefa president who also faces a potential life ban, will learn what punishment they face if any.

In recent ethics cases where financial misconduct was not proven, judges imposed a six-year ban on Federation Internationale de Football Association honorary vice president Chung Mong-joon of South Korea and seven years for Harold Mayne-Nicholls of Chile, who led Fifa’s technical inspections of the 2018-2022 bids.

“The judge told me at the beginning of the hearing that they would drop the corruption accusations”, Blatter said.

FILE – In this Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015 file photo FIFA president Sepp Blatter is photographed while banknotes thrown by British comedian Simon Brodkin hurtle through the air during a press conference following the extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee at the headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

Multiple scandals that have hit world football have intensified the spotlight on the inquiry into a two million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) payment that the FIFA leader authorised for Platini. “This investigation should be closed and the suspension lifted”, Mr Cullen added. The investigation resulted in a final report which was submitted to the adjudicatory chamber on 20 November 2015.

Both men deny corruption and say there was an “oral contract” for the payment because Platini’s whole salary for his work could not be made at the time. Mr Platini’s assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.

Nevertheless, the conduct of Mr Platini without a legal basis constituted a breach of article 20 paragraph 1 of the FCE (offering and accepting gifts and other benefits).

The agreement was “a classic conflict of interest” between two executive committee members, Federation Internationale de Football Association audit panel chairman Domenico Scala said in October.

Do you think an eight-year ban is enough punishment for these men?