It was the day that few thought would ever come - the day Sepp Blatter was banned from FIFA.

FIFA president Blatter, along with UEFA boss Michel Platini, the man who wanted to replace the Swiss as leader of world football, were both handed eight-year bans from all football-related activities after an ethics investigation.

Blatter, who has been in charge of FIFA since 1998 and won a fifth consecutive term in office earlier this year, has promised to fight the suspension after being found guilty of breaches surrounding a "disloyal payment" to Platini made in 2011.

FIFA's Ethics Committee said it had not found evidence that the payment, which was made at a time when Blatter was aiming for re-election, constituted a bribe but that it had lacked transparency and was a conflict of interest.

Platini, who has led UEFA since 2007, is also expected to appeal the decision.