Reuters
Zurich, Dec 21: FIFA president Sepp Blatter and European (UEFA) soccer boss Michel Platini were both banned from soccer for eight years Monday for ethics violations, leaving the global game leaderless as it fights a swirl of corruption cases.
The pair, who were also fined, had been suspended in October while an investigation was carried out into a two million Swiss franc ($2.02 million) payment that soccer’s global governing body made to Platini in 2011, with Blatter’s approval. Blatter was fined 50,000 Swiss francs and Platini 80,000.
The decision means that Blatter’s 17 years at the helm of world soccer will end in disgrace, and spells the end of Platini’s hopes of replacing the 79-year-old Swiss in a presidential election in February.
FIFA’s Ethics Committee said it had not found evidence that the payment, made at a time when Blatter was seeking re-election, constituted a bribe, but that it had nevertheless lacked transparency and presented a conflict of interest.
This meant the men were spared potential life bans. Both have denied any wrongdoing and are almost certain to challenge the decision in FIFA’s Appeals Committee and, if necessary, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.
“The evidence available to the adjudicatory chamber in the present case was not sufficient to establish, to the extent required, that Mr Blatter sought the execution or omission of an official act from Mr Platini,” said a statement, referring to the ‘bribery and corruption’ section of the code.
But the committee’s adjudicatory chamber did find that the payment had been ‘without a legal basis’ and a breach of regulations governing gifts and other benefits.
The statement said Blatter ‘found himself in a situation of conflict of interest, despite which he continued to perform his related duties, failing to disclose said situation and the existence of personal interests linked to his prospective activities’.
“By failing to place FIFA’s interests first and abstain from doing anything which could be contrary to FIFA’s interests, Mr Blatter violated his fiduciary duty to FIFA,” the statement added.
It also said Platini’s argument that there had been an oral agreement for the payment had not been convincing, and that he, too, had abused his position as a FIFA vice-president and executive committee member.
“Mr Platini failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities,” the statement said.