Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini Get 8-Year Bans from FIFA, Internet Reacts
The footballing world stood still as FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini were handed eight-year bans from football on Monday morning, according to Eric Bernaudeau of Agence French-Presse (via Yahoo Sports).
The suspensions, effective immediately, come after an ethics investigation into a "disloyal payment" of £1.3 million from Blatter to 60-year-old Platini in 2011.
The Internet revelled in the news:
Some even questioned the severity of the punishment.
It gave an ideal opportunity to resurface some of the more memorable moments in Blatter's 17-year career at the helm of FIFA.
"Sepp Blatter's legacy in one perfect vine... #FIFA https://t.co/1UwBK9XNPs
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) December 21, 2015"
There was at least some sympathy for Blatter, albeit slightly tongue-in-cheek.
The 79-year-old confirmed he would speak later in the morning, which had everyone listening...
...and he didn't disappoint, in an extraordinary press conference lasting just under an hour:
"Blatter is name dropping Nelson Mandela. What a fool.
— Richard Ings (@ringsau) December 21, 2015"
So with Blatter vowing to fight, attention soon turned to what is next for FIFA.
[Twitter]
