Blatter, Platini banned for eight years

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been banned by the FIFA ethics committee for eight years each on Monday.

FIFA President Blatter and UEFA President Platini were kicked out of the sport in a $2 million payment deal that is also the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland.

In a news conference shortly after the ban was announced, Blatter said he would challenge his ban at the FIFA appeal committee and then the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"I will fight," said Blatter. "I will fight until the end."

With the ban,Platini's bid to succeed Blatter in the Feb. 26 presidential election is now over. But Platini is also expected to appeal to the FIFA appeal committee.

UEFA said in a short statement that it was "extremely disappointed" with the ruling and supported Platini's right to clear his name.

FIFA's ethics judges decided that Blatter and Platini broke ethics rules on conflicts of interest, breach of loyalty and offering or receiving gifts.

In Monday's verdict, Blatter was fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($50,250) and Platini 80,000 Swiss francs ($80,400). Enditem