Blatter and Platini Suspended Eight Years

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and VP Michel Platini have been suspended from duty for eight years as the ethics comity found the pair to be guilty of fraudulent behaviour.

The criminal investigation began in 2011 when Blatter approved an 'under-the-table' cash transfer for Platini.

It was ruled that Blatter broke the FIFA Code of Ethics rules regarding conflict of interest, breach of loyalty and offering gifts while Platini was only charged with breach of loyalty and conflict of interest.

"Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr. Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment. By failing to play FIFA's interests first and abstain from doing anything which could be contrary to FIFA's interests, Mr. Blatter violated his fiduciary duty to FIFA."

It's somewhat ironic, that of all things for Blatter and Platini to be suspended for, it's an illegal transfer of money. Not the alleged bribes they received for letting Qatar host the World Cup in 2022. Or the allegations that Blatter had formed a "boys club" with the African nations and made backdoor deals in order to stay in power.

In the end, Blatter has done a great service for the world of football but he's also been the most controversial leader of a governing organisation since Tony Abbott.