Just when we thought it might go away, we forgot about the scandal involving Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini earlier in the year that took many by surprise, but apparently not everyone.
In reaching a verdict the FIFA ethics committee found both Blatter and Platini had demonstrated an “abusive execution” of their positions at that time.
Both men continue to deny wrong-doing or misuse and (apparently) intend to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
Swiss Elected President Sepp Blatter and 60-year-old Frenchman Platini were fined £33,700 ($50,000) and £54,000 ($80,000) respectively.
Despite the ban, both Blatter and Platini will be allowed to attend matches, which include the Euro 2016 held in France only if they buy tickets in a private capacity, which might not happen.
Blatter has been the FIFA boss since 1998 had announced he was quitting with a presidential election February 26th, 2016 and interesting enough it was Platini who was dubbed as a future leader of football’s world governing body.
Platini is a three-time European Footballer of the Year and also a former captain of France and has been in charge of Uefa, which is European football’s governing body that takes him back to 2007 in that role.
FIFA investigators have recommended a life-time ban against both Blatter and Platini, but that remains to be seen, but realistically – it would be the right thing for FIFA to do.
Multiple scandals that have hit world football have intensified the spotlight on the inquiry and we have to question if this is the end of the scandal or the beginning?
The money was for work that the French football legend carried out as a consultant from 1998 to 2002 and we hear that no contract and details of the sum owed were released but only appeared in FIFA’s accounts only after it was paid in 2011.
Blatter was then seeking support for a fourth term as FIFA leader and facing a challenge from Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar.
It seems that crooks ride together as Platini had endorsed Blatter for the position of President (again) but he has insisted there was no link between the payment and the election – and I’m sure that we believe that?
Blatter arrived and was unshaven and having a plaster over his right cheek and was extremely defiant at a news conference he had called in advance of the punishments being made public.
He told the media “I will fight for me and for FIFA and is really sorry he is being made a scapegoat in this scandal and that he has become tainted in the eyes of humanity.”
He added that he thought he had convinced the FIFA ethics tribunal that the payment from FIFA to Platini was legitimate.
The saga continues – so stay tuned!!!
