Blatter and Platini banned by FIFA for eight years

UEFA president Michel Platini who attends the 61st FIFA congress in this picture taken June 1, 2011 at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland. [Photo/Agencies]

ABUSE OF OFFICE

The chamber concluded that Blatter's actions ultimately demonstrated "an abusive execution of his position as President of FIFA".

It also said Platini's argument that there had been an oral agreement for the payment had not been convincing, and that he, too, had abused his position as a FIFA vice-president and Executive Committee member.

"Mr Platini failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities," it said.

Blatter was fined 50,000 Swiss francs and Platini, who boycotted the ethics committee hearing as unfair, 80,000.

UEFA said it was disappointed with the ruling and "supports Michel Platini's right to a due process and the opportunity to clear his name".

Until his suspension, Platini had been the frontrunner to succeed Blatter at the top of world soccer. Following Monday's ruling, the British bookmaker William Hill made Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation, the 6-5 favourite, followed by Jordan's Prince Ali al Hussein on 13-8 and UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino, of Switzerland, on 5-2.

In the United States, prosecutors have indicted 27 current or former soccer officials, including eight former FIFA Executive Committee members and the current heads of both the North and South American federations, over allegations that they ran bribery schemes connected to the sale of television rights for soccer competitions. Twelve people and two sports marketing companies have been convicted.

($1 = 0.9925 Swiss francs)