Sepp Blatter Insists he Will Remain as FIFA President Amid Criminal Proceedings

 

Sepp Blatter has said he will not stand down as FIFA president despite the latest scandal surrounding him and claims he did nothing "illegal" or "improper".

Swiss prosecutors announced criminal proceedings were opened against the 79-year-old “on suspicion of criminal mismanagement”.

He is suspected to have signed a contract that was "unfavourable to Fifa" and for making a "disloyal payment" to Uefa president Michel Platini, believed to be around £1.3 million.

A statement released by his lawyers read: "President Blatter spoke to FIFA staff today and informed the staff that he was cooperating with the authorities, reiterated that he had done nothing illegal or improper and stated that he would remain as president of FIFA.

"On the (UEFA President Michel) Platini matter, President Blatter on Friday shared with the Swiss authorities the fact that Mr. Platini had a valuable employment relationship with FIFA serving as an adviser to the president beginning in 1998.

"He explained to the prosecutors that the payments were valid compensation and nothing more and were properly accounted for within FIFA including the withholding of Social Security contributions."

UEFA president Michel Platini has also written a letter to the members of UEFA denying any wrongdoing in this matter.

Both Blatter and Platini are facing investigation by the FIFA ethics committee.