Former FIFA
president Sepp Blatter and former EUFA president Michel Platini, have been
banned from football for eight years after the FIFA Independent ethics
Committee said the pair's 'defence wasn't convincing enough'.. Read FIFA's
Official statement released this morning after the cut;
''The
adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee chaired by Mr Hans Joachim Eckert
has banned Mr Joseph S. Blatter, President of FIFA, for eight years and Mr
Michel Platini, Vice-President and member of the Executive Committee of FIFA
and President of UEFA, for eight years from all football-related activities
(administrative, sports or any other) on a national and international level.
The bans come into force immediately.''
''The proceedings against Mr Blatter primarily related to a payment of CHF
2,000,000 transferred in February 2011 from FIFA to Mr Platini. 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 evidence available to the adjudicatory chamber in the present case was
not sufficient to establish, to the extent required, that Mr Blatter sought the
execution or omission of an official act from Mr Platini within the meaning of
article 21 paragraph 1 of the FIFA code of Ethics (Bribery and
corruption).''
'' However,
the conduct of Mr Blatter towards Mr Platini without a legal basis constituted
a breach of article 20 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Offering and accepting gifts and
other benefits).
''Furthermore,
Mr Blatter found himself in a situation of conflict of interest, despite which
he continued to perform his related duties, failing to disclose said situation
and the existence of personal interests linked to his prospective activities,
thus violating article 19 paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of the FCE (Conflicts of
interest). By failing to place FIFA’s interests first and abstain from doing
anything which could be contrary to FIFA’s interests, Mr Blatter violated his
fiduciary duty to FIFA and breached article 15 of the FCE (Loyalty). 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 to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive
execution of his position as President of FIFA, hence violating article 13 of
the FCE (General rules of conduct).''
''In consequence, Mr Blatter has been banned for eight years from all football
related activities and fined CHF 50,000.''
''The investigation into the case of Mr Blatter was conducted by Mr Robert
Torres, member of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee. The
investigation resulted in a final report which was submitted to the
adjudicatory chamber on 20 November 2015. The adjudicatory chamber opened
formal proceedings on 23 November 2015, and the hearing of Mr Blatter took
place in Zurich on 17 December 2015.''
''The proceedings against Mr Platini primarily related to a payment of CHF
2,000,000 that he received in February 2011 from FIFA. The payment to Mr
Platini had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both
officials on 25 August 1999. Mr Platini’s assertion of an oral agreement was
determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.''
''The evidence available to the adjudicatory chamber in the present case was
not sufficient to establish, to the extent required, that Mr Platini obtained
the payment for the execution or omission of an official act within the meaning
of article 21 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Bribery and corruption). Nevertheless,
the conduct of Mr Platini without a legal basis constituted a breach of article
20 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits).
Furthermore, Mr Platini found himself in a situation of conflict of interest,
despite which he continued to perform his related duties, failing to disclose
said situation and the existence of personal interests linked to his
prospective activities in violation of article 19 paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of the
FCE (Conflicts of interest).''
'' By
failing to place FIFA’s interests first and abstain from doing anything which
could be contrary to FIFA’s interests, Mr Platini also violated his fiduciary
duty to FIFA and breached article 15 of the FCE (Loyalty). In addition, Mr
Platini failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing
unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and
responsibilities. His actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude,
failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s
regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an
abusive execution of his position as Vice-President of FIFA and member of the
FIFA Executive Committee, hence violating article 13 of the FCE (General rules
of conduct)."
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