FIFA Bans Blatter, Platini From Soccer For 8 Years

Two of the most powerful men in world soccer, FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA boss Michel Platini, have been banned Monday for eight years for conflict of interest.

However, the two denied of any wrongdoing at FIFA and confirmed to be appealing to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The ban has been made by FIFA’s Ethics Committee and it rules out Blatter from any future role in soccer.

Platini heads the European soccer’s governing body and he said to be first appealing at FIFA and thereafter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The committee fined Blatter 50,000 francs and Platini 80,000 francs in relation to a payment made in 2011.

Blatter paid two million Swiss Francs to Platini when he was seeking re-election as FIFA president.

After being banned Platini said, “The decision is no surprise to me: the procedure initiated against me by FIFA’s ethics committee is a pure masquerade.”

FA’s former chairman David Bernstein said he believes this is the end for Blatter. Talking to BBC Radio 5 he said even though he will fight but he is doomed and he is yesterday’s man.