Fifa slaps ex-president Blatter with longer ban
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has been slapped with an additional six-year ban from football activities.
The ban, imposed by the sport’s world governing body, has been sanctioned for multiple breaches of Fifa’s ethics code and comes into force when Blatter’s current suspension ends in October.
A similar suspension has been imposed on the organization’s former secretary-general Jérôme Valcke.
Both men have also been fined 1m Swiss francs (about Sh110 million).
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 Valcke.”
Blatter was found to have accepted undue economic benefits totalling 23m Swiss francs ( about Sh2.3 billion) and approved payments or bonuses to other officials.
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, 60, was found to have breached those same ethics code articles, plus abuse of position.
Also banned by Fifa for similar offences is former Confederation of African (Caf) president Ahmad Ahmad.