Blatter, Platini lose appeals against provisional FIFA bans

Michel Platini smiles during a news conference at the Geneva Press Club in Geneva, Switzerland, in this April 29, 2008 file photo.  [Photo/Agencies]

'DISAPPOINTED'

Blatter said in a statement issued by his U.S. lawyer he was "disappointed" by the decision and would appeal "and looks forward to the opportunity to be heard, including through the presentation of evidence and argument of counsel, and thereby demonstrate he has engaged in no misconduct."

Both statements complained that the Appeal Committee took more than two weeks to announce it's decision. FIFA could not immediately be reached to comment on any delay.

Buffeted by scandals over the last few years, FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May by the U.S. indictments of 14 football officials, including two FIFA vice-presidents, and sports marketing executives for alleged corruption.

Blatter, who has been at the head of FIFA since 1998, also faces criminal investigation in Switzerland over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.1 million) payment from FIFA to Platini. Both men have denied wrongdoing.

The payment was made in 2011 for work Platini had completed nine years earlier, the Swiss attorney-general's office has said, adding Platini was considered "between a witness and an accused person."

FIFA's Ethics Committee has said it hopes to have completed the full investigation into Blatter and Platini in time for a final decision to be made on their cases by the end of their 90-day suspension period.

Both men could then face much longer bans if found guilty of contravening FIFA's code of ethics which, in Platini's case, would mean he also loses his position as UEFA president.

Five candidates have been accepted for the presidential election and the job of rebuilding the sport's beleaguered governing body.

They are Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France, UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino of Switzerland and South Africa businessman Tokyo Sexwale.

Infantino entered the race a day before the deadline in October and is expected to withdraw if Platini is allowed back in.