'Combative' Blatter to appeal FIFA ban: 'I will fight ... I'll be back'

"I'll be back."

Disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter, defiant as ever, proclaimed his innocence and announced that he will appeal the eight-year ban FIFA levied on both him and colleague Michel Platini on Monday morning.

The two men were given the boot by FIFA's ethics committee over the infamous "disloyal payment" of £1.35 million that the Swiss made to his longtime protege in 2011 - something Blatter claimed, and maintained Monday, was a gentleman's agreement between the pair, despite the fact that the deal is now also the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland.

Shortly after FIFA's hefty penalty was revealed, the 79-year-old, flanked by his daughter, Corinne, and sporting a bandage on his cheek after recently having a mole removed, gave a classic rambling performance in an effort to clear his name of any wrongdoing, announcing that he will appeal with FIFA, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and the Swiss authorities.

"We go immediately once again to the appeal committee," he said. "We can go to the CAS. We go also to the Swiss (authorities). In the Swiss law to be suspended for eight years you must have committed something very, very important.

"I am not ashamed. I regret, but I am not ashamed."

Blatter, as has so often been the case in the wake of the sweeping allegations that have engulfed football's governing body of late, also took aim at those who he claims are simply attempting to tarnish his reputation.

"I'm really sorry," he said. "I'm sorry. I am sorry that I am still somewhere a punching ball. I'm sorry that I'm as president of FIFA this punching ball. I'm sorry for football.

"I am sorry for the 400-plus FIFA members. I'm sorry. I am sorry about how I am treated in this world of humanitarian qualities. I'm sorry for the Federation Internationale de Football Association.

"But I'm also sorry about me, how I'm treated in this world."

Blatter went on, outlining his disappointment with the ruling, and trying again to clarify why the payment to Platini was made some nine years after the Frenchman had finished working for the Swiss.

"You can identify me as an optimist. Together with a Swiss lawyer, we thought that we had convinced the panel, with Mr. Eckert in the chair, about the situation with the payment. We thought that we were in a situation that was clear, with a clean sheet.

"We had a oral contract, a gentleman’s agreement. This was made in 1998 after the World Cup. What astonished me now when I talk about the decision today is that they deny the existence of such an agreement. This agreement was confirmed by two meetings. We have the proof that this agreement existed.

"Therefore the 2-million Swiss francs paid to Platini went through the finance committee, the executive committee and was done in good terms. This is a donation. This is a gift. We avoided the issue of corruption ... If it cannot be proven, then it cannot be guilty."

Related: Complete FIFA statement on decision to ban Blatter, Platini for 8 years

Making reference to Nelson Mandela, a staple of almost any Blatter press conference, the once teflon president remained stern - comically so - in his assertion that he will not go down without a fight.

"Mr. Mandela was talking about humanity. Humanity needs no other significance than to respect each other and I say that to celebrate humanity through football was created by this great humanist ... Human beings needs to be respected. It has created a lot of collateral damage in the families. My family was mocked.

"I will fight. I will fight for me and I will fight for FIFA. Suspended for what? I spoke with my lawyer this morning and we were not surprised that the notification was made first to the media. This committee has no right to go against the president of FIFA. The president can only be removed by the congress. Even suspended, I am still the president."