Sepp Blatter: Ex-FIFA boss given new ban from football for six years and eight months for breaches of ethics code

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter's ban from football has been imposed for multiple breaches of FIFA’s ethics code and comes into force when a current suspension ends in October; former secretary general Jerome Valcke to serve same ban

By PA Media

Image: Sepp Blatter has been handed an extended ban by FIFA

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been given a new ban of six years and eight months from football, the world governing body has announced.

The ban has been imposed for multiple breaches of FIFA's ethics code and comes into force when a current suspension ends in October, FIFA said.

The same length of suspension has also been imposed on the organisation's former secretary general Jerome Valcke.

Both Blatter and Valcke were also fined £780,000.

A statement from FIFA read: "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."

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Blatter investigation key points

  • Fairly easy for inner circle of high-ranking officials to sign and approve their own bonuses and salary increases, without any supervision or control
  • Blatter therefore not in a position to perform his duties with integrity and in an independent manner due to his private secondary interests
  • Blatter’s conduct revealed a pattern of violations of the FCE [FIFA Code of Ethics]
  • Blatter was pursuing his own personal and financial interests
  • Blatter has not expressed awareness of wrongdoing or remorse for his actions
  • Ethics Committee reached their decision on December 17 2020

The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA's ethics committee found Blatter, 85, in breach of rules concerning duty of loyalty, conflicts of interest and offering or accepting gifts or other benefits.

Valcke was found to have breached those same ethics code articles, plus abuse of position.

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In December, FIFA filed a criminal complaint against Blatter over the finances of its loss-making football museum in Zurich.

World football's governing body said it suspected criminal mismanagement by FIFA's former bosses and companies appointed by them to work on the museum - long seen as a pet project of Blatter's - in a renovated and rented city centre building.

The FIFA World Football Museum opened in 2016 after $140m (£104.2m) of football money was spent refurbishing the 1970s office building to also include 34 rental apartments.

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