The Eight-Year Sanction Against FIFA Officials

The eight-year sanction that FIFA's Ethics Committee imposed on Swiss Joseph Blatter, who served as its president for 17 years, and Frenchman Michel Platini, considered his natural successor, represents yet another dark day for the organization that governs the beautiful game in 2015.

Though expected, the punishment is still shocking. Its victims carry illustrious surnames in football. Blatter, a former Swiss Army colonel turned executive, and Platini, an elite footballer and three-time Ballon d'Or winner, not to mention former coach of the French national team before ascending to UEFA's presidency in 2007.

#FIFA: #JosephBlatter considered his sanction "a disgrace" ►https://t.co/MNkYVETyHX pic.twitter.com/A2qs32fjrN

— El Comercio (@elcomercio) December 21, 2015

Despite the longstanding rift between them, this sanction brings them together once again, just as it did in the distant past when Platini was handpicked by Blatter as his advisor and even considered his natural successor.

They grew apart over time as Platini championed changes within FIFA that Blatter did not support, but today both have received a condemnation for the second time in just two months. In this case, it is an eight-year ban, immediately prohibiting them from engaging in any football-related activities.

On October 7th, another black mark on FIFA's current calendar, both experienced the bitterness of a temporary suspension lasting 90 days, which already foretold the worst.