FIFA trying to ban Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for life

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been provisionally banned by the FIFA Ethics Committee for 90 days, but they’re trying to get the two big bosses booted for good before that suspension expires. Platini’s lawyer says FIFA’s going for the lifetime ban on him, and it sounds like they’re doing the same for Blatter.

A lesson: if you ever take a seemingly unethical seven-figure payment, don’t say it was back pay that your job owed you from 13 years ago. That is a bad defense and it doesn’t work.

Barcelona Under-19’s Carlos Alena ruined three young defenders’ lives. (@SimonPeach)

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has publicly backed Rafa Benitez. (Guardian)

Stuttgart have fired coach Alexander Zorniger. (Bundesliga)

Angel Di Maria posted a nice message about seeing Cristiano Ronaldo when PSG plays Real Madrid soon, so of course everyone took it as a sign that Ronaldo will transfer to PSG. (AS)

Arsene Wenger is still mad about this doping thing and says UEFA accepts cheating. (Telegraph)

Philippe Coutinho might miss some time with a hamstring injury. (Mirror)

Here’s what MLS players’ bonuses look like. (SI)

The USMNT’s home qualifier against Guatemala will be in Columbus. (Fox Soccer)

Michael Caley on how the Premier League can hold onto their fourth Champions League spot. (ESPN FC)

Billy Haisley on Sergi Roberto’s emergence as an important player for Barcelona. (Deadspin)

Mohamed Mohamed on France’s tight race for Champions League spots. (Stats Bomb)

Sunderland notched a big away win thanks to an error by Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann. (Guardian)

Champions League: 8 games (from 12 p.m.) -- There are two early games. Strangely, Bayer-BATE gets the FS1 nod over Zenit-Valencia. The best game from the 2:45 p.m. slate is Barcelona-Roma.