Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter Gets New Six-year Football Ban Over Bonus Payments

Sepp Blatter, a former President of world’s football governing body FIFA, has been handed a new six-year ban from football for breaching the association’s Code of Ethics.

Blatter is currently serving a suspension he received back in 2015 for conflict of interest and dereliction of duty charges. That ban had been set to expire in October, however, he has now been penalised for separate indiscretions.

As reported on Wednesday, FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee found that Blatter and fellow accused Jerome Valcke – the governing body’s former Secretary General – had breached the Code of Ethics on numerous occasions.

“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,” a statement read.

“In its decisions, the adjudicatory chamber ruled that Mr Blatter had breached art. 15 (Duty of loyalty), art. 19 (Conflicts of interest) and art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits) of the FCE, while Mr Valcke was found to have violated art. 15 (Duty of loyalty), art. 19 (Conflicts of interest), art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts or other benefits) and art. 25 (Abuse of position) of the FCE.”

The pair have both been banned from football for a period of six years and eight months. In Blatter’s case, this suspension will begin when his current one expires in October. Each was also given a fine of 1,000,000 CHF, the equivalent to around £800,000.

The ruling is the latest in a long line of sanctions since the FIFA corruption scandal became public in 2015. Former UEFA president Michel Platini, long expected to be Blatter’s successor, is also currently banned from all football activity until 2023.

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