TheCable

The ethics committee of FIFA has banned Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for eight years.

The duo had been under a 90-day suspension following allegations of financial misappropriation.

The Swiss allegedly wired some money estimated at $1.94 million to Platini, an act which the committee said breached ethics code regarding financial dealings.

With the ban taking immediate effect, Blatter, 79, bids goodbye to football, while Platini, 60, who would have contested the position of FIFA president, stands out in the running and administration of the game.

Though the committee  found them guilty on charges of “conflict of interest, false accounting and non co-operation, with investigators’”, both men deny any wrongdoing, claiming that the payment was to honour a verbal agreement made in 1998 when Platini served as a technical adviser to Blatter.

Blatter ​has been instructed to pay the $40,000 ​fine ​while Platini, $80,000​.
​”The proceedings against Mr Blatter primarily related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000 transferred in February 2011 from Fifa to Mr Platini,” the committee said in a statement.

“Mr Blatter, in his position as president of FIFA, authorised the payment to Mr Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999.

“Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment.

“His assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber… Mr Platini’s assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.”

Platini reportedly boycotted his meeting with the committee on Friday, alleging that a decision had been reached.

Observers of the case say the Frenchman’s body language suggests he would take the matter to the court of arbitration for sports.

​He had an earlier appeal at CAS to lift the 90-day ban placed on him lifted so as to enable him attend the Euro 2016 and UEFA Champions League last 16 draws, thrown out.

Blatter disclosed that he will not be contesting the 2016 FIFA presidency and will be standing down from administration of the game, 16 years after he first emerged as president in 1999.

He has not revealed his plans or reactions on the verdict but would later address a press conference, where he would make his position known.​