Sepp Blatter Files Appeal of FIFA Ban: Latest Comments and Reaction

Sepp Blatter has launched an appeal against his six-year global ban from football, according to Press Association Sport:

Blatter, expelled from the FIFA presidency on corruption charges, will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a ban that has already been reduced.

AP reporter Rob Harris posted a picture of the appeal:

Back in February, both Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini had their global bans amended to six years apiece. The ruling was made by a FIFA appeal committee, according to Owen Gibson of the Guardian.

Gibson noted how the ruling "undermined" FIFA's bid for its "members to embrace reform." That's a necessary change for world football's governing body following the corruption scandal that took down Blatter's presidency and originally earned both him and Platini eight-year bans.

The pair had landed in hot water due to a reported £1.35 million consulting payment made to Platini without a contract. In October 2015, David Conn of the Guardian described how Blatter and Platini defended the payment on the grounds that it was the result of an "oral agreement" for advisory work Platini undertook for Blatter.

Given the stain on the game created by Blatter's downfall, any decision to give back his participatory status is likely to be met with fierce criticism. It would undermine any attempts by the new-look FIFA to assure the public that the crimes of the past will stay there.