Blatter and Platini suspended by FIFA

The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee today issued a statement declaring the provisional 90-days bans of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, FIFA vice-president Michel Platini and secretary general Jéröme Valcke. The bans will come into force immediately.

The statement further said that the bans could be extended for an additional period, not exceeding 45 days. During the bans, the officials are from all football related activities.

According to the statement, the suspicions are based on investigations currently being carried out in the investigatory chamber of the FIFA ethics committee.

"President Blatter was disappointed that the Ethics Committee did not follow the Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Code, both of which provide for an opportunity to be heard,” Blatter’s lawyers said in a statement.

“Further, the Ethics Committee based its decision on a misunderstanding of the actions of the Attorney General in Switzerland, which has opened an investigation but brought no charge against the President. In fact, the prosecutors will be obliged by law to dismiss the case if their investigation, barely two weeks old, does not establish sufficient evidence. President Blatter looks forward to the opportunity to present evidence that will demonstrate he did not engage in any misconduct," the statement continues.

The first reports about a forthcoming suspension of Blatter and Platini were out already last night, and in a statement issued shortly before the FIFA ethics committee declared their decision, Platini called these reports “insidious” leaks that are “essentially an attempt to damage my reputation.”

“This morning I submitted the letters of support that are required in order to stand as a candidate for the presidency of Fifa,” Platini said and added “I am certain that we will overcome this difficulty with full transparency and the unity that gives football its strength.”

As the longest-serving vice-president on the FIFA executive committee, Issa Hayatou, CAF president, will now step in and serve as Acting President of FIFA, said a FIFA statement.

The ethics committee further banned FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon for six years based on findings in an investigation into the bidding process for the 2018/2022 FIFA world cups.

In an acrid statement, IOC president Thomas Bach now calls for radical changes of FIFA.

"Enough is enough," IOC president Thomas Bach said demanding deeper reforms.

"They should also be open for a credible, external presidential candidate of high integrity to accomplish the necessary reforms and bring back stability and credibility to FIFA."