It’s a great day to be alive football fans.
Today is the first day of the rest of our lives after FIFA announced that President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini have been given lengthy bans.
The 79-year-old Blatter and his apparent successor have both been banned from all football-related activities for eight years.
The pair were found guilty of breaches of FIFA’s code of ethics after being investigated for a supposed ‘disloyal payment’ of £1.3m between Blatter and Platini in 2011 – something both men deny.
FIFA statement on why Blatter has been banned for 8 years pic.twitter.com/rYexxTcRMi
— Dan Roan (@danroan) December 21, 2015
This was Blatter arriving for his press conference which is scheduled for Monday morning…
Blatter arrives for his press conference in Zurich (with plaster on face) pic.twitter.com/95UjwBPplr
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) December 21, 2015
But it doesn’t sound like Blatter is going to take this lying down…
Blatter to speak inside next hour here in Zurich. Expect a message of defiance – he believes Ethics Committee cannot ban him.
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) December 21, 2015
People on Twitter were loving the news…
https://twitter.com/CindyPoluta/status/678866091100213248
That face by Blatter, though #FIFAGate pic.twitter.com/5Qu04mPqTn
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) December 21, 2015
Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have both been banned from all football-related activity for 8 years… pic.twitter.com/7pcSyB0sIY
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) December 21, 2015
Blatter and Platini eight year bans. Goodbye, good riddance. You will not be missed. #FIFA
— Duncan Wright (@dwright75) December 21, 2015
But others thought eight years wasn’t enough…
Platini and Blatter banned for 8 years 😂😂. Well you can fuck off! Hope you're never involved in our beautiful game ever again.
— Jad (@jad_daou) December 21, 2015
Banned from football for eight years?? Why not for life??? #Blatter #Platini
— Jack Barwell (@J4CKY_B) December 21, 2015
Drop Blatter in the middle of the Qatar desert and leave without him.
— Josh Howe (@JoshO567) December 21, 2015
There was the odd one who will miss Uncle Sepp…
Boycotting games until Blatter gets to appeal his ban….
— .nthony Vescio (@vesh88) December 21, 2015
Some were already looking to the future…
Blatter will speak at 10am when he will no doubt announce he will run for FIFA president in 2023!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 21, 2015
Blatter gone….get the offside rule back to basic!!
— Maik Taylor (@maiktaylor1) December 21, 2015