FIFA president Sepp Blatter, UEFA chief Michel Platini ‘to escape lifetime bans’

FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini are reportedly expected to escape lifetime bans, but could serve a lengthy suspension over allegations of a “disloyal” payment.

Both of the football figures are serving 90-day suspensions from their roles, but will face disciplinary hearings before the FIFA ethics committee, with Blatter’s case being heard on Thursday and Platini’s on Friday.

The hearings are in relation to a £1.3m payment that Blatter made to Platini in 2011.

According to The Guardian, the pair are likely to escape lifetime bans as corruption would be difficult to prove, but it is believed that Blatter and Platini could be issued with a minimum ban of seven years as there is evidence of a conflict of interest.

Blatter will step down from his role as FIFA president in February 2016.