FIFA reduces ban on Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini

Blatter and Platini have their bans reduced. Image: Mirror

Outgoing Fifa boss Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have had their bans from world football reduced from eight to six years by the FIFA appeal committee....


Blatter, 79, and his former underling Platini were banned for eight years in December from all football related activities following a "disloyal payment" of 2 million Swiss francs ($2 million) authorized to the Frenchman in 2011.

A statement released by the Fifa appeal committee headed by Bermuda FA president Larry Mussenden read: "the Appeal Committee considered that Mr. Platini's and Mr. Blatter's activities and the services they had rendered to FIFA, UEFA and football in general over the years should deserve appropriate recognition as a mitigating factor."

Both men are expected to exhaust their appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland considering they've both maintained innocence in the entire affair.

The election to succeed Blatter at the head of world football holds on Friday, with Uefa General Secretary Gianni Infantino and Bahraini Sheikh Salman Al-Khalifa the leading contenders.