A FIFA
ethics tribunal on Monday banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for
eight years saying they had abused their positions over a suspect 2
million Swiss franc payment, AFP reports.
The court
strongly criticised the FIFA President and Vice-president, saying there
was “no legal basis” for the payment that Blatter authorised for Platini
in 2011.
While full-blown corruption charges were dropped, both men angrily rejected the verdict and vowed to appeal.
Blatter said he felt betrayed and declared, “I will fight to the end.”
French legend Platini called the verdict a “masquerade” for an attempt to exclude him from world football.
The ban,
which starts immediately, could however bring an inglorious end to
79-year-old Blatter’s four decades with FIFA. It is also a devastating
blow to Platini’s hopes of taking over as head of football’s world
governing body in an election on February 26.
Blatter,
FIFA’s president since 1998, was fined 50,000 Swiss francs while
Platini, the head of UEFA, Europe’s governing body, was fined 80,000
Swiss francs.
FIFA
suspended the pair and launched an inquiry in October after Swiss
prosecutors placed Blatter under investigation for criminal
mismanagement over the two million Swiss franc payment that was caught
with special software.
A
statement by the FIFA tribunal said Blatter and Platini were guilty of
“abusive execution” of their powers over the payment the two men said
was for consultancy work carried out between 1999 and 2002.
The judges said there was a conflict of interest and “no legal basis” for the transfer in any written agreement.
The court
said, “Mr Blatter’s actions did not show commitment to an ethical
attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well
as FIFA’s regulatory framework.”
The judgement was even more damning of the French legend Platini.
“Mr
Platini failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing
unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations
and responsibilities.”
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