FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini have been banned from football for eight years after an ethics investigation.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini have been banned from football for eight years after an ethics investigation.
The two power figures were under investigation for a 'disloyal payment' of around €1.85m made to the former Juventus star in 2011.
They had both denied any wrongdoing, but it was announced this morning that the two men have been handed immediate eight-year bans from all football-related activities.
They have also been fined, with Blatter being made to pay around €37,000 and Platini €74,000.
"Mr Blatter, in his position as president of FIFA, authorised the payment to Mr Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999," read the committee's statement on their findings.
"Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment. His assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.
It continued: "The payment to Mr Platini had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999.
"Mr Platini’s assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.”