FIFA opens formal proceedings against Blatter, Platini

GENEVA

FIFA’s Ethics Committee on Monday opened formal proceedings against the body’s suspended president, Sepp Blatter, and UEFA President Michel Platini.

"The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert has today opened formal adjudicatory proceedings against Joseph S. Blatter and Michel Platini based on the final reports submitted by the investigatory chamber," FIFA said in a statement.

On Saturday, FIFA Ethics Committee submitted its final reports containing requests for sanctions against Blatter and Platini.

"The adjudicatory chamber intends to come to a decision in both cases during the month of December," FIFA said.

Blatter and Platini have been facing 90-day bans from football over a $2 million payment made by FIFA to Platini in 2011.

The pair recently lost appeals against their suspensions.

Platini is running for the FIFA presidency despite the suspension which was imposed last month in connection to a 2011 payment of two million Swiss francs ($2 million) from FIFA.

The allegation is that Blatter made a "disloyal payment" to Platini, in Feb. 2011. This payment, "at the expense of FIFA", was allegedly for work performed between Jan. 1999 and June 2002.

Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against Blatter on Sept. 25, accusing him of "criminal mismanagement" and financial irregularities. Both Platini and Blatter have denied wrongdoing.

Police arrested seven FIFA officials, including two vice presidents, on corruption charges in May at the request of the U.S. authorities, who later issued indictments against seven other people in the case.

Following claims of corruption, Blatter, who has always denied any wrongdoing, announced his decision to step down on June 2, just after he was re-elected as president for a fifth consecutive term. His term of office expires on Feb. 26.