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FIFA Bans President Sepp Blatter, UEFA Head Michel Platini 8 Years

Blatter and Platini both avoided lifetime bans from FIFA. The suspensions stem from a $2 million "disloyal payment" made to Platini in 2011.

FIFA Bans President Sepp Blatter, UEFA Head Michel Platini 8 Years
Getty Images / Philipp Schmidli
Article by Matt Moreno
SMS
December 21, 2015

"... but I will fight. I will fight for me and I will fight for FIFA. Suspended eight years for what?" FIFA President Sepp Blatter said at a press conference on Monday. 

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini have been banned for eight years. 

The FIFA ethics committee found Blatter guilty of making a $2 million "disloyal payment" to Platini in 2011. 

The committee said in a  statement, "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."

Blatter, 79, and Platini, 60, managed to avoid lifetime bans. 

Blatter was fined $40,000. Platini was fined $80,000. (Video via CCTV)

Cameroon's Issa Hayatou is FIFA's interim president. 

FIFA's next presidential election is scheduled for Feb. 2016. 

Blatter and Platini are expected to appeal FIFA's decision. 

This video includes images from Getty Images.