Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini banned from football for 8years by FIFA

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former
EUFA president Michel Platini, have been banned
from football for eight years after the FIFA
Independent ethics Committee said the pair's
'defence wasn't convincing enough'.. Read FIFA's
Official statement released this morning after the
cut;
''The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics
Committee chaired by Mr Hans Joachim Eckert
has banned Mr Joseph S. Blatter, President of
FIFA, for eight years and Mr Michel Platini, Vice-
President and member of the Executive
Committee of FIFA and President of UEFA, for
eight years from all football-related activities
(administrative, sports or any other) on a national
and international level. The bans come into force
immediately.''
''The proceedings against Mr Blatter primarily
related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000
transferred in February 2011 from FIFA to Mr
Platini. 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.
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.
''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 within the meaning of article
21 paragraph 1 of the FIFA code of Ethics (Bribery
and corruption).''
'' However, the conduct of Mr Blatter towards Mr
Platini without a legal basis constituted a breach
of article 20 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Offering and
accepting gifts and other benefits).
''Furthermore, Mr 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, thus violating article 19 paragraphs 1, 2
and 3 of the FCE (Conflicts of interest). 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 and breached article 15 of the FCE (Loyalty).
Mr Blatter’s actions did not show commitment to
an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable
laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s regulatory
framework to the extent applicable to him and
demonstrating an abusive execution of his
position as President of FIFA, hence violating
article 13 of the FCE (General rules of conduct).''
''In consequence, Mr Blatter has been banned for
eight years from all football related activities and
fined CHF 50,000.''
''The investigation into the case of Mr Blatter was
conducted by Mr Robert Torres, member of the
investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee.
The investigation resulted in a final report which
was submitted to the adjudicatory chamber on 20
November 2015. The adjudicatory chamber
opened formal proceedings on 23 November 2015,
and the hearing of Mr Blatter took place in Zurich
on 17 December 2015.''
''The proceedings against Mr Platini primarily
related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000 that he
received in February 2011 from FIFA. 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.''
''The evidence available to the adjudicatory
chamber in the present case was not sufficient to
establish, to the extent required, that Mr Platini
obtained the payment for the execution or
omission of an official act within the meaning of
article 21 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Bribery and
corruption). Nevertheless, the conduct of Mr
Platini without a legal basis constituted a breach
of article 20 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Offering and
accepting gifts and other benefits). Furthermore,
Mr Platini 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 in violation of
article 19 paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of the FCE
(Conflicts of interest).''
'' By failing to place FIFA’s interests first and
abstain from doing anything which could be
contrary to FIFA’s interests, Mr Platini also
violated his fiduciary duty to FIFA and breached
article 15 of the FCE (Loyalty). In addition, Mr
Platini failed to act with complete credibility and
integrity, showing unawareness of the importance
of his duties and concomitant obligations and
responsibilities. His actions did not show
commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to
respect all applicable laws and regulations as well
as FIFA’s regulatory framework to the extent
applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive
execution of his position as Vice-President of
FIFA and member of the FIFA Executive
Committee, hence violating article 13 of the FCE
(General rules of conduct)."
''In consequence, Mr Platini has been banned for
eight years from all football related activities and
fined CHF 80,000.''