FIFA: the investigatory chamber will appeal the sanctions given to Joseph Blatter and Michel Platini

"The investigatory chamber intends to appeal against the decisions (eight year bans) against Mr. Blatter and Mr. Platini to the FIFA Appeal Committee," said Andreas Bantel, spokesman for the FIFA Ethics Committee, on 12/01/2016.

Joseph Blatter and Michel Platini were suspended for eight years from any activity in football by the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee on 21/12/2015. The investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee had requested lifetime bans for the two leaders, after finding them guilty of corruption. Both chambers of the Ethics Committee are independent of each other.

The adjudicatory chamber notified Joseph Blatter and Michel Platini of the reasons for their suspension on 09/01/2016. Convicted of "conflict of interest" and "mismanagement" both men have appealed their penalty to the FIFA Appeal Committee.

• Michel Platini, president of UEFA, who had announced his candidacy for the FIFA presidency on 29/07/2015, announced his decision to withdraw his candidacy on 08/01/2016.
• "I cannot and do not have the time or means to go to voters, meet people, to…