FIFA probe demands sanctions for Blatter and Platini

FIFA’s ethics committee says it completed its investigation into the conduct of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA head Michel Platini and requested sanctions against both of them.

The report was submitted to FIFA’s ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert for a final decision, a statement from the organisation said Saturday.

Both Blatter and Platini, who had been a favourite to win February’s FIFA presidential election, have been suspended for 90 days pending the final investigation.

The men face much longer bans if FIFA adopts the recommendation of the committee, which, in Platini’s case, would mean he also loses his position as UEFA president.

“For reasons linked to privacy rights and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, the chamber will not publish details of the concluded reports and the requested sanctions against the two officials,” the statement said.

Hit by a series of scandals over the past few years, FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May by the US indictments of 14 football officials, including two FIFA vice presidents and sports marketing executives for alleged corruption.

The organisation’s awarding of World Cup tournaments to Germany, Russia, and Qatar have been subject to scrutiny and charges of corruption.

Blatter also faces a criminal investigation in Switzerland over a $2.1m payment from FIFA to Platini. Both men have denied wrongdoing.