The tyrannical duo clearly seem more concerned with preserving their own reputations rather than that of the sport which they are entrusted with governing, and, rightly so, they have been largely ostracised throughout the world.

Their actions relating to that “disloyal” payment - meaning one allegedly not in the interests of the governing body - of CHF 2 million (£1.3 million/$2.1 million/€1.8 million) made to the Frenchman for consultancy work he carried out many years ago is just the tip of the iceberg.

While they have both vowed to fight their 90-day suspensions, handed to them by FIFA’s Ethics Committee - who must have been either dormant or turning a blind eye to the way the governing body has been run for nearly two decades - they appear to be as guilty as sin.

Bungs, backhanders and alleged criminal activity are part and parcel of football these days, so perhaps it is time we reminded ourselves of a few recent examples of what gives the beautiful game its title.

In qualification for the Euro 2016, due to be held in France, Iceland have thrust themselves into the global footballing spotlight by qualifying for their first-ever major tournament, and with games to spare.

A 0-0 draw between Iceland and Kazakhstan in Reykjavik may not have been the most glamorous of results but try telling that to the European nation’s 329,000-odd population and the 10,000 crowd at Laugardalsvollur as it secured their historic place at next year’s competition, sending their support into pandemonium.

Despite being placed in a group with heavyweights such as The Netherlands - winners of the 1988 European Championships in West Germany - the minnows of Iceland prevailed, much to the surprise and delight of a large majority of the continent.

Six wins so far in Group A have ensured a country which has only 21,000-odd registered footballers will compete among the top European footballing nations in France next summer, and their success provided an example of how truly inspirational sport can be.

The Icelandic players deservedly revelled in their triumph on that September night, but manager Lars Lagerback, a veteran of football management having had stints at Sweden, his country of birth, and Nigeria, remained as humble as ever despite overseeing arguably the greatest sporting day the country has ever seen.

“Someone said it is like a fairytale and I guess that is true in a way, but not in another,” the 67-year-old said.

“This is the result of hard work from a lot of people. Everyone has improved.

“There has been a lot of talk about my role and that I am going to become President, but all it is about is that we are a group of people who have worked incredibly hard in a good environment.

"I wouldn’t say that I am a hero; Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and people like that are real heroes.”

His humility among his success would be lost on people like Blatter and Platini, who have often tooted their own horns in pursuit of establishing themselves as global football leaders.

Windsor Park in Belfast provided the setting for yet more footballing history to be made more recently as Northern Ireland’s 3-1 victory over Greece on Thursday (October 8) sealed their place at Euro 2016, which will be their maiden appearance at the European Championships.

The Greeks, who caused one of the biggest sporting shocks when they lifted the trophy at Euro 2004, may not be the force they once were, but the Northern Irish side, so often in the shadow of their Home Nations compatriots, proved too strong on the night, sparking scenes of jubilation and delight which have largely been absent in that part of the world.

The cynics among the football fraternity will say Iceland and Northern Ireland’s triumphs are purely down to the expansion of the tournament from the usual 16 teams to 24, and while this may partly be true, they still had to get there.

As the old cliché goes, you can only beat what is put out in front of you.

Other relatively minor footballing nations, such as Wales and Albania, could yet fellow in the footsteps of Iceland and Northern Ireland, and it is here that, begrudgingly, European football’s governing body must be praised for raising the amount of competing teams at next year’s tournament by eight.

It has given those lesser countries a real shot at making an appearance at a major tournament that even they may not have thought possible.

Some may question the point of having such teams at the competition, who may be there to just make up the numbers, but the teams themselves won’t care a jot at being labelled as such.

Just being there is enough.

There are also positive aspects of the game much lower down the footballing food chain as today marks national Non-League Day in England, where fans of Premier League teams are urged to ditch the prawn sandwiches and caviar for a dodgy burger and barely-cooked chips.

The annual event, established in 2010, sees many clubs from the lower echelons of football entice supporters with offers including free beer and pay what you like, with Eastern Counties League Premier Division outfit Walsham Le Willows opting for the more bizarre as they have given out half a dozen eggs to the first 50 supporters through the gates at their match against Brantham Athletic.

So many incredible stories can be found at this level, far away from the elite professional sport which garners high TV audiences and sees a plethora of companies vying to get their names on shirts and billboards alike.

Non-league football is something dear to my heart as I have followed my local team Worthing FC, based on the South Coast of England, for many years.

The Ryman Division One South team, seven steps down from the money-spinning Premier League, have provided their own example of the beautiful nature of football after former player George Dowell decided to save the club using a compensation payout following a car accident which left him paralysed from the chest down.

The English FA, deservedly criticised for supporting Platini’s campaign for the FIFA Presidency mere days before the Frenchman was hit with a suspension, must also receive some praise as they have helped coincide the third qualifying round of their flagship competition, the FA Cup, with Non-League Day, to help struggling clubs earn extra money from increased attendances during today’s 42 matches.

The FA Cup itself is packed full of romance, with the hallowed first round stage giving plumbers, electricians and postmen the chance to go up against full-time professionals from the Football League, which encompasses the second, third and fourth tiers of English football.

It truly is a competition like no other and gives constant reminders of how beautiful football can be.

Away from the supposed beautiful game, Japan’s rugby team have stolen the nation’s hearts with a series of incredible displays, including a memorable win over rugby giants South Africa, subverting their Rugby World Cup record which had seen them win only one game at the event in their history - a 52-8 victory against Zimbabwe in Belfast in 1991.

Their efforts attracted a record viewing figure for their recent clash with Samoa at Stadium:mk in Milton Keynes, where nearly 20 million fans in Japan tuned into the match, and have provided an early boost to tournament organisers of the 2019 World Cup, which will be staged in the Asian country.

This year’s Cricket World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand in February and March, also saw a series of decent showings from the so-called minnows, with Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Ireland all showing the International Cricket Council why their mooted proposal of cutting the amount of teams from 14 to 10 by the time the next World Cup rolls around in England and Wales in 2019 is utterly ridiculous.

But despite how football, and sport in general, can yield breathtaking moments including shock results, against-all-odds performances and displays of grace and humility, scandals will seemingly continue to remain on the lips of journalist and fans alike.

While it would be wrong to ignore the crisis which currently engulfs world football's governing body, an organisation in desperate need of a top-to-bottom overhaul, perhaps its time to focus on the reasons why millions around the world live and breathe football.

It's time to put our positive hats on and cherish those beautiful moments that have been dwarfed by the ugliness at the very summit of the game.