Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini defiant in face of eight-year bans...

"I am sorry that, as president of Fifa, I am this punching ball": Sepp Blatter. Photo: AP

"I want to talk about betrayal," he said. "Today, first of all, I was very sad. But not any more. Now I am fighting."

His battle figures to be especially difficult. Blatter and Michel Platini, two of the most powerful figures in global football, were barred from the sport for eight years on Monday after being found guilty of ethics violations.

For Blatter, who has been FIFA's president since 1998, as well as Platini, who is the president of UEFA, which oversees soccer in Europe, the ban prohibits any involvement in soccer-related activities. The sanction seemingly ends any chance that Platini will be able to run in February's special election to fill FIFA's presidency, which Blatter has said he will vacate.

The committee said Platini's actions "did not show commitment to an ethical attitude," adding that he had abused his position as a vice-president for the soccer body and as a member of its executive committee.

In a statement, Platini denied the charges and said the entire situation was a "true mockery". He also labelled the disciplinary process "pathetic" and said the decision against him went against "all legitimacy and credibility."

Source New York Times