Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were each banned for eight years by the FIFA ethics committee on Monday in a stunning removal of world soccer's most powerful leaders.
FIFA President Blatter and his one-time protege Platini were kicked out of the sport for conflict of interest and disloyalty to FIFA in a $2 million payment deal that is also the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland.
In a defiant news conference shortly after the verdict was announced, Blatter said he would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, insisting he had done nothing wrong.
"I will fight," Blatter said. "I will fight until the end."
His last words on leaving the conference were "I'll be back."
Blatter's FIFA career is ending in disgrace after more than 17 years as president and 40 years in total with the scandal-hit governing body.
Platini's bid to succeed his former mentor in the February 26 presidential election is now likely over. Platini, a FIFA vice president and head of European governing body UEFA, is also expected to appeal.
Blatter made it clear he regretted his current position but declared he was innocent of any wrongdoing.
"I regret, but I am not ashamed," he said. "I am sorry that I am a punching ball. I am sorry for football ... I am now suspended eight years, suspended eight years. Suspended eight years for what?"
FIFA's ethics judges decided that Blatter and Platini broke ethics rules on conflicts of interest, breach of loyalty and offering or receiving gifts.
Both denied wrongdoing in 2011 when Platini took $US2 million ($A2.79 million) of FIFA money approved by Blatter as uncontracted salary for work as a presidential adviser from 1999-2002.
In Monday's verdict, Blatter was fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($A70,000) and Platini 80,000 Swiss francs ($A112,000).
"Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr. Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment," the judges said.
"By failing to place FIFA's interests first and abstain from doing anything which could be contrary to FIFA's interests, Mr.Blatter violated his fiduciary duty to FIFA.
"His (Blatter's) assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber."
Blatter hit back at that conclusion during his news conference, portraying the ethics committee as saying: "He's a liar and I'm a liar."
"This is not correct," Blatter said.
Responding to a reporter's question, he said in French: "I'm sad. It can't go on this way. It's not possible. After 40 years, it can't happen this way. .. I'm fighting to restore my rights."
Platini, the judges said, "failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities."
Blatter, who turns 80 in March, said he wants to preside over the FIFA congress on February 26 where his successor will be elected.
The 60-year-old Platini wants to clear his name, pass a FIFA integrity check and be declared an official candidate in the election he had been favoured to win.
Switzerland's attorney general has opened criminal proceedings against Blatter for the suspected "disloyal payment" of FIFA money to Platini and selling undervalued World Cup TV rights for the Caribbean.
Platini's status in the criminal case is "between a witness and an accused person," attorney general Michael Lauber said in October.
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