Three of world football's most influential power brokers were today suspended by FIFA for 90 days as an unprecedented corruption crisis continued to engulf the organisation.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, secretary general Jerome Valcke and vice-president Michel Platini, who also heads European football's body UEFA, were suspended for 90 days each by the FIFA ethics committee, amidst a series of allegations involving financial irregularities.
Former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon has also been banned for six years and fined 100,000 Swiss Francs.
Platini, who hoped to contest next February's contest to elect a new leader for the scandal-hit organisation, had earlier claimed that reports he would be banned were 'insidious' and designed to damage his reputation.
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A statement from FIFA's ethics committee said: "During this time, the above individuals are banned from all football activities on a national and international level. The bans come into force immediately."
The sanctions come after Swiss authorities interrogated Blatter last month over an irregular £1.35m payment to Platini made nine years after the 60-year-old carried out consultation work for the organisation.
Blatter was also questioned by Swiss investigators about broadcasting contracts sold to former FIFA vice president Jack Warner in 2005 that were allegedly undervalued.
Last week Blatter defied calls from FIFA sponsors including Coca-Cola and McDonald's to step down immediately.
Blatter's lawyers issued a statement claiming the ethics committee should have allowed him to be heard.
The statement said: "President Blatter was disappointed that the ethics committee did not follow the code of ethics and disciplinary code, both of which provide for an opportunity to be heard.
"Further, the ethics committee based its decision on a misunderstanding of the actions of the Attorney General in Switzerland, which has opened an investigation but brought no charge against the president.
"In fact, the prosecutors will be obliged by law to dismiss the case if their investigation, barely two weeks old, does not establish sufficient evidence.
"President Blatter looks forward to the opportunity to present evidence that will demonstrate that he did not engage in any misconduct, criminal or otherwise."
