Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have had their bans from football reduced from eight years to six, FIFA has announced.

The pair had hoped to have the suspensions lifted entirely but the world governing body’s appeal committee dismissed their cases. They added that "activities and services rendered to FIFA, UEFA and football" were mitigating factors.

Blatter, the former FIFA president and Platini, the UEFA chief, were suspended in December over a £1.3 million "disloyal" payment made by FIFA to the Frenchman in 2011.

“Following the hearings of Mr Platini and Mr Blatter held in Zurich on 15 and 16 February 2016 respectively, the Appeal Committee has decided as follows,” a statement from FIFA began.

“Mr Platini’s and Mr Blatter’s appeals are dismissed. The Appeal Committee concurred with the findings of the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee in the sense that the evidence available in the present case is not sufficient to establish a breach of article 21 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (Bribery and corruption).

“Consequently, the appeal lodged by the investigatory chamber for a life ban from all football-related activity was also dismissed.

“While agreeing with the principles and arguments presented by the adjudicatory chamber in its calculation of the sanction, the Appeal Committee determined that some strong mitigating factors for Mr Platini and Mr Blatter were not taken into account when establishing the sanction.

“In this sense, amongst others, the Appeal Committee considered that Mr Platini’s and Mr Blatter’s activities and the services they had rendered to FIFA, UEFA and football in general over the years should deserve appropriate recognition as a mitigating factor.

“Thus, after carefully analysing and taking into consideration the exceptional mitigating circumstances of the cases, it was determined that a one-year reduction of the five-year ban for a breach of art. 20 of the FCE was proper, and similarly a one-year reduction of the three-year ban for the other breaches was also proper.

“In summary: Michel Platini is banned from taking part in any football-related activity (administrative, sports or other) at national and international level for a period of six years as from 8 October 2015.

“Joseph S. Blatter is banned from taking part in any football-related activity (administrative, sports or other) at national and international level for a period of six years as from 8 October 2015.”

The FIFA presidential election is scheduled to take place on Friday.

-

Follow Joy Sports on Twitter: @JoySportsGH. Our hashtag is #JoySports