Blatter appeal on February 16

Sepp Blatter's appeal against his eight-year ban from football will be heard by FIFA judges on February 16, a day after that of Michel Platini, a FIFA spokesman said on Friday.
Suspended FIFA president Blatter, who wants to preside at next month's presidential election to name his successor in Zurich, will have his appeal heard by world football's governing body's appeals commission.

Earlier, a source close to Platini told AFP that the suspended UEFA president's appeal would be held on February 15.

"The (Platini) appeal will be held on February 15," the source said.

Both Blatter and Platini were banned for eight years on December 21 over a two million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) payment that Blatter authorised for Platini.

FIFA's ethics committee has also said it will appeal against the sentence saying it is too lenient.

Anti-corruption investigators had originally sought a life ban from all football activity against Blatter and Platini.

The ethics judges rejected corruption charges but said the two most powerful men in the game had abused their positions in making the controversial payment in 2011 for consultancy work carried out a decade earlier.

Until the scandal erupted, Platini was the favourite to succeed Blatter in the February 26 presidential election.

Depending on next month's verdict Platini has said he is prepared to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. Blatter would also have that same option.
Source :AFP