Sepp Blatter said he would fight for himself and for FIFA after he was handed an eight-year ban from all football-related activity, telling a news conference: "I'll be back."
Blatter, who has served as FIFA president for more than 17 years, said he would appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the Swiss authorities and described himself as a "punching ball."
Blatter and his one-time protege Michel Platini were kicked out of the sport for conflict of interest in a two million Swiss franc (£1.35 million) payment deal that is also the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland.
Shortly after the decision was announced, Blatter held an often rambling news conference in Zurich in which he vowed to clear his name.
He repeatedly referenced the late Nelson Mandela, who helped promote the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, as he called for human beings to "respect each other" while complaining that the ethics committee's decision had been released to the media before he had been informed.
"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."
He repeated his explanation for why Platini was paid the sum in 2011, more than nine years after he had finished working for Blatter, saying it was a gentleman's agreement that the cash would be paid at a later date.
Both Blatter and Platini acknowledge that there was no written contract for the payment and the 79-year-old accepted that the ethics committee felt it should have been recorded in FIFA's books.
"I agree to that but that is administrative and financial proceedings and has nothing to do with ethics," he said. "It was administrative and financial duties but it was an error."
He added: "You can identify me as an optimist. We thought we had convinced the people in the panel, with Mr [Hans-Joachim] Eckert in the chair, about the situation, the payment between the FIFA president and Michel Platini of an ongoing contract that was never terminated.
"We thought we were in the clear. We are in a so-called gentleman's agreement.
"What astonished me is that they [the ethics committee] deny the existence of this agreement."
He dismissed suggestions the payment was related to the 2011 FIFA presidential election, saying: "I have never cheated with money. I was not given money for votes from Europe. I already had votes from Europe."
Blatter, who wore a plaster on his face following the removal of a mole, said he had spoken to his lawyer on Monday morning and would appeal with FIFA, CAS and the Swiss authorities.
"I will fight," he said. "I will fight for me and I will fight for FIFA. Suspended eight years for what?
"He [Blatter's lawyer] is putting into question all the 'what is right' and 'what is wrong.' I will use the sporting justice to go forward.
"We go immediately once again to the appeal committee. 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."
Blatter, who congratulated Barcelona on winning the FIFA Club World Cup before taking questions, said: "I regret that I'm this punching ball there. I regret that I am the punching ball for this organisation I have served with heart and conscience for 41 years."
Asked whether he was ashamed, he replied: "I am not ashamed. I regret, but I am not ashamed.
"I am ashamed that the committee goes against the evidence that is presented."
Blatter also said he rejected the notion that he should be banned from attending games, saying that part of the disciplinary code was designed for players and coaches.
"To suspend the president of FIFA, to say he cannot go to a football match, this is absolutely wrong," he said. "This does not apply."
Blatter has previously spoken of how close to death he came during his recent health scare.
He told the news conference: "I won't speak about my health but at a certain time I will tell you on Nov. 1, without a big help from somebody, I wouldn't be here.
"I am still here thanks to my good heart. And I have never lost my mind.
"I am back and I am doing better."
He said he wanted to preside over the FIFA presidential election in Feburary and added: "I believe in God and I believe in the law."
Concluding the news conference, he told the assembled journalists: "I'll be back."