Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini lose FIFA suspension appeals

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have lost their appeals against their 90-day bans for financial wrongdoing.

The provisional bans prevent Blatter from working as FIFA president and stop UEFA president Platini from campaigning for the FIFA election on Feb. 26.

Their appeals were rejected Wednesday by FIFA's appeals committee.

The two can file further appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The bans were imposed last month by FIFA's ethics committee pending full investigations into a $2 million US payment Blatter approved for Platini in 2011 as backdated salary.

Blatter and Platini are expected to appear before FIFA ethics judge Joachim Eckert in December.

Switzerland's attorney general has also opened criminal proceedings against Blatter and questioned Platini for suspected criminal mismanagement of FIFA money.