FIFA Reject Blatter and Platini Appeals but Reduce Bans

The FIFA Appeals Committee has rejected appeals from Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini but will reduce their bans from eight years to six years.

The pair have had their bans from all football-related activities reduced because of the “services they had rendered to FIFA, therapy UEFA and football in general over the years”.

They were found guilty of breaches surrounding a “disloyal payment” of £1.3 million made by Blatter to Platini. Their appeals were heard at a court in Zurich earlier this month but despite losing their appeals, both Blatter and Platini are planning launch another appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In a statement, Platini said: “The charges against me are baseless, built from the ground up and surreal in view of the facts and the explanations I gave during the hearing. I will go through all the possible appeals, starting with Cas. I will go to the end of my fight to show I’m innocent.”

Blatter also released a statement saying: “I’m deeply disappointed by the Fifa appeal chamber and the next step is going further to Cas in Lausanne.”

FIFA will be holding its election to replace Sepp Blatter as president on Friday with Gianni Infantino, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Jerome Champagne, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale all in the running.

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