FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA boss Michel Platini have been handed eight-year bans from all football-related activities following an ethics investigation.
They were found guilty of breaches surrounding a $2-million “disloyal payment” made to Platini in 2011. The bans are in place with immediate effect.
A statement by the FIFA court said both men showed “abusive execution” of their powers and added that they were guilty of a conflict of interest.
It said there was “no legal basis” for the payment in an oral agreement between the two officials.
The news scuppers Platini’s hopes of succeeding Blatter as FIFA’s president, with the 79-year-old Swiss announcing earlier this year that he was stepping down as head of football’s world governing body.
Platini, 60, has been in charge of UEFA (European football’s governing body) since 2007.
Blatter and Platini have also been fined $40,000 and $80,000 respectively.
A spokesman for Blatter confirmed that he will appeal against the ban and is prepared to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. Platini is expected to follow suit.
The news adds to turmoil at FIFA following the opening of criminal investigations in both America and Switzerland in regards to alleged corruption in the organisation.
