Platini, Blatter lose appeals against FIFA suspensions

Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini have lost appeals against their provisional 90-day suspension related to a corruption scandal in world football.

In a statement today, FIFA confirmed that its Appeal Committee had rejected "in full" the legal actions lodged by Blatter and Platini.

Due to the bans, Blatter cannot work as FIFA president and Platini cannot continue to campaign for the upcoming FIFA election on Feb. 26.

Blatter and Platini can file another appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Platini is running for the FIFA presidency despite the 90-day suspension which was imposed last month in connection to a 2011 payment of two million Swiss francs ($2 million) from FIFA.

The allegation is that Blatter made a "disloyal payment" to Platini, in Feb. 2011. This payment, "at the expense of FIFA", was allegedly for work performed between Jan. 1999 and June 2002.

Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against Blatter on Sept. 25, accusing him of "criminal mismanagement" and financial irregularities.

Both Platini and Blatter have denied wrongdoing.

Swiss police arrested seven FIFA officials, including two vice presidents, on corruption charges in May at the request of the U.S. authorities, who later issued indictments against seven other people in the case.

Following claims of corruption, Blatter, who has always denied any wrongdoing, announced his decision to step down on June 2, just after he was re-elected as president for a fifth consecutive term. His term of office expires on Feb. 26.