FIFA Find Blatter And Platini Guilty Of Corruption; Bag Eight Year Ban Each

FIFA have banned Sepp Blatter and Uefa boss, Michel Platini for eight years each from all football-related activities after being

found guilty of corruption during their reign as presidents as FIFA and UEFA.

Both men were found guilty of misappropriating £1.3m ($2m) FIFA funds in 2011, and still denied any wrongdoing. The bans come into force immediately.

Fifa boss since 1998, Blatter, 79, had already announced he was quitting ahead of February's presidential election.

Platini, 60, was tipped as a future leader of football's world governing body and had hoped to succeed Blatter.

A three-time European Footballer of the Year and former captain of France, he had been in charge of Uefa - European football's governing body - since 2007.

FIFA has also fined both of them; Blatter to pay £33,700 (£40,000), while Platini £54,000 ($80,000).

Statement - key points

"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...

"Mr Platini's assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber." BBC