Sepp Blatter's 17-year helm at the world soccer governing body FIFA appear all but effectively over, after he was banned for eight years from all football-related activities, by FIFA's own ethics committee. UEFA Chief Michel Platini's bid to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in the February 26 election is now likely ended, after he was also handed a similar ban. Ethics judges ruled that Blatter broke FIFA Code of Ethics rules on conflicts of interest, breach of loyalty and offering gifts. The latest development adds to the crisis in FIFA which has seen US prosecutors indicting 27 current or former soccer officials, including eight former FIFA executive committee members, over allegations that they ran bribery schemes connected to the sale of television rights for soccer competitions. Twelve people and two sports marketing companies have been convicted.

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