FIFA Rejects Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini's Appeals Against Bans

Embattled FIFA president, Sepp Blatter and UEFA President, Michel Platini may be in for a tougher time than envisaged as FIFA rejected their appeals against their bans

Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have lost appeals against their provisional FIFA suspensions.

It will be recalled that they were suspended in October while FIFA's ethics committee investigates corruption claims against them. Blatter, 79, is accused of signing a contract "unfavourable" to FIFA and making a "disloyal payment" to Platini.

The governing body's Appeal Committee upheld last month's decisions to ban president Blatter and potential successor Platini for 90 days over a 2011 payment received by the latter.
The two will now face a full hearing with FIFA's Ethics Committee, where guilty verdicts could result in much longer suspensions.
Blatter still has the option of going to the Ethics Committee's adjudicatory chamber in a bid to overturn his provisional ban, something Platini has already tried and failed to achieve.
Both can continue fighting their bans at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and Platini's lawyers have indicated he will do so, but in the meantime the UEFA boss Platini is still currently barred from competing in February's FIFA presidential election.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)