Eight-year soccer ban on Fifa, Uefa chiefs

Geneva

FIFA banned president Joseph "Sepp" Blatter and European soccer boss Michel Platini for eight years over an unauthorised two million Swiss franc (S$2.84 million) payment, ending Mr Platini's chances of taking over the sport's governing body.

Mr Blatter was unable to demonstrate any "legal basis" for the payment in 2011, while Mr Platini's assertion of an oral agreement was rejected, the adjudicatory chamber of Fifa's Ethics Committee said on Monday. Mr Blatter was fined 50,000 Swiss francs and Mr Platini 80,000 Swiss francs and the bans take effect immediately.