Blatter and Platini banned for 8 years by FIFA

Today, a FIFA court banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for 8 years after finding them guilty of abusing their positions over a $2m payment that was made to the suspended head of European football. Both were immediately banned from all football activity. Blatter, FIFA’s president since 1998, was fined $40,000. Platini was fined $80,000.

A statement by the court said both showed “abusive execution” of their powers. In the case of Platini, the court said he “failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties.”