The downfall of Sepp Blatter and the disgraced Fifa president’s one-time heir apparent, Michel Platini , is all but complete after both were banned from football for eight years by the world governing body’s own ethics committee.
Both men were cleared of corruption charges but found guilty of a series of other breaches including a conflict of interest and dereliction of duty over a 2m Swiss francs (£1.35m) “disloyal payment” from Blatter to Platini, the Uefa president, in 2011.
While they will fight to clear their name at Fifa’s own appeals committee and the court of arbitration for sport, the verdict looks likely to finally bring the curtain down on Blatter’s controversial 40-year tenure at Fifa and Platini’s hopes of replacing him in the top job.
A defiant but visibly weakened Blatter, so used to being the centre of attention, immediately held a press conference in Zurich in which he referenced Nelson Mandela and the Nobel peace prize. “I am not ashamed,” said the 79-year-old Swiss. “I am sorry that I am a punching ball. I am sorry for football … I am now suspended eight years. Suspended eight years for what?”
Platini, who worked at Fifa from 1998 to 2002 and has been Uefa president since 2007, said the decision was a “pure masquerade”. “It has been rigged to tarnish my name by bodies I know well and who for me are bereft of all credibility or legitimacy.” Uefa said it was “extremely disappointed” with the decision.
THE GUARDIAN
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