The FIFA Ethics Committee delivered a boost to football fans everywhere on Monday morning by ruling that Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini would be banned from all footballing activities for the next eight years following an investigation into a number of apparent rule breaches during their time working together.
Having run FIFA since 1998, the ruling now seems to have brought an end to Sepp Blatter’s career, who at 79 will be far too old to take any sort of position of power once the ban comes to an end.
Platini, had been hoping to succeed Blatter as FIFA head, but will now likely see any hope of that fade as he will be 68 when he’s allowed back.
There were no tears shed for the pair, though, as the overall feeling was one of justice and relief, and below are some of the best reactions to the news taken from Twitter.
Blatter / Platini's eight-year bans from all football activity announced pic.twitter.com/POBYAEiEE8
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) December 21, 2015
Blatter/Platini cleared on corruption charges but breached others: offering/accepting gifts, conflict of interest, loyalty, general conduct.
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) December 21, 2015
The empire falls, and with it a possible Nobel Peace Prize
— Tom Adams (@tomEurosport) December 21, 2015
Fifa ban on 79 year old Blatter ends a 40 year era of transformation and infamy; Platini the man who wanted to succeed him but got too close
— David Conn (@david_conn) December 21, 2015
See you in 2023 @SeppBlatter
— Ouriel Daskal (@Soccerissue) December 21, 2015
Blatter found guilty of "abusing" his position as FIFA President over payment to Michel Platini which was a "conflict of interest"
— Steve Scott (@stevescott_itv) December 21, 2015
FIFA judge: Platini claim he had "oral agreement" for 2m Swiss franc FIFA payment "not convincing and was rejected" pic.twitter.com/ORtWEzrJL3
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) December 21, 2015
Sepp Blatter reacts to the news that he's been banned from all football related activity for 8 years: https://t.co/xpUJ8zAlvz
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 21, 2015
Can't see how FIFA can be trusted to follow their own electoral process after the shaming of so many execs. Rip it up and start again!
— Amy Lawrence (@amylawrence71) December 21, 2015
Sepp Blatter to speak at 10am. If he's banned from all football activity, what's he going to talk about? The weather?
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) December 21, 2015
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