Blatter and Platini hit with eight-year bans

FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini have been banned from all football-related activities for eight years.

The duo were found guilty of a £1.3 million  “disloyal payment” made to the Frenchman in 2011.

FIFA’s ethics committee, who passed the punishment down to the pair, said they had demonstrated an “abusive execution” of their positions.

Platini and Blatter have been banned for eight years

Despite the ban, which also came with fines of £33,700 and £54,000 for Blatter and Platini respectively, plus the ongoing criminal investigation the FBI are carrying out against the federation, the former said “I will fight for me and for Fifa”, before confirming he is prepared to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

The Swiss, who has been at the helm of world football since 1998, announced he was quitting in February, with Platini one of the leading contenders to replace him.

However, following today’s news, the former France captain and three-time European Footballer of the Year will no longer be able to run.

Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan is now the favourite to succeed Blatter in two months’ time.