Fifa ban former German football chief

“This decision hits me very hard,” Niersbach told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

“I think this sanction is inappropriate and over the top.

“I will let my lawyer advise me as to whether I will appeal against the decision.

“After the hearing in Zurich, I was confident that the Ethics Commission would impose no sanction. I have once again acknowledged and regretted my mistakes.”

Niersbach had insisted that quitting his job should have been punishment enough because he was not directly accused of paying bribes or financially benefiting from corruption.

Fifa prosecutors sought a two-year ban, however, arguing that Niersbach should have spoken up sooner when he learned of possible wrongdoing.

The ethics committee suspension will force his immediate removal from posts he currently holds on the Fifa Council and UEFA executive committee.

Fifa opened a probe on March 22 targeting six people including Niersbach and Franz Beckenbauer, the German football legend and World Cup organising committee chief, over their roles in the bidding process, amid allegations of bribery.

The Fifa investigation followed the release of a report commissioned by the DFB which found that Germany may have bought votes to secure the tournament.

The report linked Beckenbauer to a suspect deal with disgraced former Fifa bigwig Jack Warner. AFP