FIFA crisis: Blatter and Platini banned for eight years

Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Uefa chief Michel Platini have been banned from football for eight years.

The pair have been punished for the £1.35m Blatter gave to Platini in February 2011.

FIFA’s ethics committee said: “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 decisions spells the end of Platini’s bid to replace Blatter as FIFA president. Elections take place in February.

The bans come into force immediately, and in addition Blatter has been fined £33,000 and Platini £54,000.