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 $US2 million ($A2.79 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.
Platini’s bid to succeed his former mentor in the Feb. 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 $2 million of FIFA money approved by Blatter as uncontracted salary for work as a presidential adviser from 1999-2002.
Blatter was fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($A70,085) and Platini was fined 80,000 francs ($A112,145).
“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.”
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 at 11am local time 9pm (AEST).
kevin dustby
Guest
how dare he have an opinion
kevin dustby
Guest
so you are saying a salary cap brak is comparableto the extreme rorting that has gone on at FIFA? great comparison You have been hit out of the ground
Midfielder
Guest
M How bitter your posts sounds like fan of another code disillusioned by Footballs global success and your own code. To say it's rotten from the top to the local park team demonstrates someone twisted and bitter. With 204 nations involved, 300 million players, you represent world views and like the world and like the UN yes there is corruption but it's not rotten every where otherwise it could not be what it is. I suggest you go back and enjoy your chosen code and let us enjoy ours.
Marc
Guest
Martyn50 has just been dispatched over long-on for six ... Keep lobbing up those donkey drops Martyn
FIUL
Guest
And, the most popular sport in the world. How funny is that? Fiddling the Salary Cap... yeah, that's never happened in any other competition in Australia? CLOWN.
Martyn50
Guest
Ah yes the so called beautiful game. Corrupt at the top and all the way down. Australian soccer is not immune either. Just look at the recent Lowry hand over. Further down it's Perth glory and it's book keeping.
Johnno
Guest
Never hold back mate no way, I'm the Danny Tiato/Kevin Muscat of the roar lol, look out all those rich boys. I liked that Iceland group, listened to it thanks mid, and a funny post by you. yes man, that's me, I'm the gen-y guy with the ponytail at Newtown. For more that style, than the country club boat shoe wearing style like Sepp Blatter.
Kaks
Roar Guru
For a man of his age, it's pretty much a life ban. They are lucky that there was not enough proof of corruption and they were only done for breaking the FIFA gift rules or some mambo jumbo like that.
Midfielder
Guest
g AS I said to someone above that is a huge call you make and you could equally be wrong...
Midfielder
Guest
M Very true
Midfielder
Guest
Not sure that is a big call you are making
Marc
Guest
The Wallabies never had me. Private scholboys and not representative of contemporary, multicultural Australia. Worth noting there are effectively 2 parts to FIFA; the operational part which is out of public view developing the game around the world and running FIFA's tournaments and full of talented staff from around the world. Then there is the political wing of FIFA; grubby, corrupt and on public display. Needs to be reformed, and forced to be more transparent and accountable to the Associations. Beneath all the politics FIFA is doing great work all around the world, that is unfortunately being overshadowed by Blatter and his cronies.
yes man
Guest
gee you have a dislike of anyone successful Johnno. are you are sandal wearing ponytail from Newtown?
Punter
Guest
It is not egos, it's money & it's money that controls it all, no doubt this is a sad state of affairs, but this is reality, unfortunately. We live in a world as Mr Springsteen says 'poor man wants to rich, rich man wants to King & a King aint satisfied it it owns everything. Lets not forget despite everyone knowing the horrible deeds of Al Capone, he was only ever imprisoned for tax evasion.
Punter
Guest
Hence why these 2 have been banned, hence why the Catholic church is now under investigation for for their actions.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
It is too entrenched, other than dumping the entire structure and starting afresh, nothing will change.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Yawn .... The next lot will have their snouts in the trough before you can say Sepp!! or Blatt.. or Splatt!! ...or anything.... You will never clean it up. Way too many egos.
Midfielder
Guest
In typical J style ... next time mate don't hold back... but you do make a good point J... This could be worth a listen J ... this a young Iceland group that has had 5 number 1's in Iceland iMO they are capable of being the worlds next Super group ... they are so versatile and the lead singer has a voice to hHHMMmmm and he can sing so many styles.. But J I digress knowing your background and TIC please listen and enjoy my new fav group from Iceland of all places and IMO the worlds next super group... anyway mate enjoy Kaleo... and maybe were Mr B is going... again enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9IE0gLgrcM
Joe
Guest
JB I hear you but try justifying this behaviour to the poorer nation's that cant scrape enough money to play the world's largest most loved sport. Its their money these pigs stole. This should not be a .... " oh well, these things happen" .....sort of acceptance. Silence, knowledge and complicity is a form of guilt, is it not?
Johnno
Guest
Blatter is a hopless FIFA president, corrupt to the core, no one likes him. He's rich too, and successful and elitist, down with Blatter hope he has a miserable retirement, he deserves it no one likes Blatter at all, real football fans can't stand him, only the 1% cronies at FIFA have supported him, when real football fans have been calling for his resignation for years. This is just deserts for this rich scumbag. Drive a taxi Blatter, you rich corrupt turd, that no football fans like.