Following the conclusion of an Ethics Committee investigation, world football’s governing body FIFA has suspended Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini from all football-related activities for eight years.
While Sepp Blatter is head of FIFA, an organisation he has led since 1998, Michel Platini is head of European football body, UEFA, which he started leading in 2007.
The duo was found guilty of breaches involving a $2 million “disloyal payment” made to Platini in 2011.
An ethics committee report said they abused their positions, and recommended fining Blatter the sum of $40,000 and Platini $80,000.
While Blatter, 79, has confirmed he would appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sports, Platini is yet to express an opinion on the decision.
Observers say the Frenchman would most likely also appeal the decision, considering he had been nursing plans of succeed the Swiss.
The suspension is with immediate effect.