FIFA elongates ban on Sepp Blatter to 6 years

Former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter was banned for a second time by FIFA on Wednesday for financial wrongdoing. This, however, is coming seven months before the 85-year-old former president’s first ban expires.

The former president was originally banned by Fifa for eight years, later reduced to six, over ethics breaches when he was found to have made a £1.3m “disloyal payment” to ex-Uefa boss Michel Platini.

Blatter has recently been in poor health and was put in an induced coma for one week after undergoing heart surgery in December.

However, FIFA said its ethics committee banned both Blatter and former secretary-general Jerome Valcke for six years and eight months. This as a result of financial wrongdoing linked to awarding themselves contractual bonuses worth 23m Swiss Francs (£18m).

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“The investigations into Messrs Blatter and Valcke covered various charges, in particular concerning bonus payments in relation to Fifa competitions that were paid to top Fifa management officials, various amendments and extensions of employment contracts, as well as reimbursement by Fifa of private legal costs in the case of Mr Valcke.”

Moreso, in the latest case, both Blatter and Jerome Valcke were each fined 1 million Swiss francs ($1.07 million) and ordered to pay within 30 days. It is unclear what power FIFA has to enforce payment.

FIFA’s allegations of self-dealing in bonus payments led to former finance director Markus Kattner being banned for 10 years last year.