FIFA ethics panel suspends Blatter and Platini for 90 days

FIFA's longtime president Sepp Blatter was suspended for 90 days on Thursday, as Swiss authorities investigate him amid a widening corruption scandal. Blatter will appeal. Blatter's suspension by the world football body's independent ethics committee all but ends the Swiss national's long and tightfisted reign over world football's governing body. Acting in the wake of Swiss prosecutors announcing they are examining Blatter on suspicion of corruption, the ethics committee also handed a 90-day suspension to Blatter's possible successor, UEFA chief Michael Platini, and to FIFA's secretary general, Jerome Valcke, who had already been put on leave. The suspensions take effect immediately and the ethics committee said that "the duration of the bans may be extended for an additional period not exceeding 45 days". Both Blatter and Platini maintain their innocence. "President Blatter looks forward to the opportunity to present evidence that will demonstrate that he did ...