FIFA Prosecutors to Appeal For Tougher Bans on Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini
FIFA ethics prosecutors said on Tuesday they will appeal to increase the eight-year ban on Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, arguing the penalties imposed were too lenient.
- Associated Press
- Updated: January 12, 2016 08:16 PM IST
Already banished from football for eight years, former FIFA leaders Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini are again facing the threat of life bans. (Michel Platini Officially Appeals Eight-Year Ban)
FIFA ethics prosecutors said on Tuesday they will appeal to increase the bans, arguing they are too lenient. (Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini Free to Appeal Bans, Says FIFA Ethics Committee)
"The investigatory chamber intends to appeal against the decision against Blatter and Platini at the appeal committee of FIFA," the prosecution unit said in a statement.
The counter-challenge revives the prospect of life bans, which both men revealed had been recommended by investigators before their ethics hearings last month. (Michel Platini Withdraws Bid For FIFA Presidency)
Blatter and Platini have said they will also appeal the eight-year sanctions handed down by four ethics judges who rejected charges of bribery and corruption.
Instead, Blatter and Platini were banned for a range of lesser violations of the FIFA ethics code, including accepting or receiving gifts and conflicts of interest.
They deny wrongdoing over Blatter approving a USD 2 million payment from FIFA to Platini in 2011 as backdated salary without a contract.
Platini worked as a presidential adviser to Blatter from 1999-2002 but did not claim the money owed to him for more than eight years, when FIFA was no longer obliged by Swiss law to pay him.
The case has ended Platini's bid to succeed his former mentor as FIFA president in an election on February 26.
Blatter wants to clear his name and host the election meeting in Zurich as a farewell to FIFA after more than 40 years.
The FIFA appeals committee rarely cuts or annuls sanctions imposed by the governing body's ethics or disciplinary panels.
Blatter and Platini have said they expect their cases will fail at FIFA before they pursue further appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.