In an unprecedented decision, an internal ethics panel this week suspended International soccer's two most powerful individuals -- FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini -- for eight years from all activities related to the sport.

Blatter, the head of soccer's global government body, and Platini, who leads the group's European counterpart, were found guilty of breaches surrounding a $2 million "disloyal payment" made to Platini in 2011, BBC Sport reported. Both demonstrated an "abusive execution" of their positions, the FIFA ethics committee determined.

Blatter, who had already announced he would step down in February following this year's FIFA corruption scandal, insisted that he would appeal the decision.

"I regret that I am the punching ball for this organization that I have served, with all my heart, for 41 years," he said at a press conference on Monday, according to The Guardian.

Platini, who had been among those calling for Blatter's ouster earlier this year and had even been named as a possible successor, described the panel's decision as a "masquerade" intended to "dirty" his name, BBC Sport said.

Also on Monday, meanwhile, Blatter seemed to go so far as to indirectly accuse the United States government as having orchestrated the eight-year ban imposed on him, USA Today reported.

"If we had awarded the World Cup in 2022 to the USA, we would not be here," Blatter said during what the newspaper described as a "meandering" news conference, referring to the sporting event awarded to Qatar in a much-questioned 2010 decision.

The FIFA president, who has led the organization since 1998, failed to apologize for the alleged improper payment and showed himself defiant, USA Today detailed.

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

While he said the ethics panel's decision initially affected him, he was determined to appeal, the 79-year-old soccer boss added.

"First of all, I was sad, but now I'm not sad; I am combative," he explained. "FIFA is still working well," Blatter insisted.