Blatter-Platini case: FIFA rejects the appeals, but reduces the suspension from eight to six years

"The FIFA Appeal Committee, chaired by Larry Mussenden (Bermuda), has partially confirmed the decisions taken by the adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee on 17 and 18/12/2015 (communicated on 21/12/2015) regarding Joseph S. Blatter and Michel Platini respectively, whose bans have been reduced from eight to six years," announced FIFA on 24/02/2016.

"In this sense, amongst others, the Appeal Committee considered that Mr Platini’s and Mr Blatter’s activities and the services they had rendered to FIFA, UEFA and football in general over the years should deserve appropriate recognition as a mitigating factor," stated FIFA.

Joseph Blatter, president of FIFA, and Michel Platini, president of UEFA, who were both provisionally suspended on 08/10/2015, had both appealed against their eight year suspensions from any activity in football: the appeal hearing for Michel Platini was held at FIFA headquarters on 15/02/2016, while that of Joseph Blatter on 16/02/2016, in the presence of the concerned parties.

The two leaders were suspended due to "conflict of interest" and…