I paid Platini late wages not bribe, Blatter tells court
Former FIFA President Joseph Blatter has denied any wrongdoing as he faces a trial for fraud in Switzerland alongside Michel Platini, complaining about being pre-judged in the media.
It was “totally incomprehensible” for him that they were in court, Blatter said on Thursday at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona.
He said the payment of two million Swiss francs (2.07 million dollars) to former UEFA president Platini had gone through all due process at the world football governing body.
“It is an owed, late payment of wages,” Blatter said. “It’s an administrative matter in an association and it will be dealt with according to civil law.”
Being questioned by a prosecutor in 2015 over allegations of fraud was something that caught him by surprise. “This shock has lasted seven years now, (and) this shock is still there,” Blatter said.
He said he had already faced the “maximum penalty” at the time, being “ostracised” in the world.
“The media gave me a criminal record,” Blatter added.
The pair are charged with defrauding FIFA over the payment Platini received for work done as an adviser between 1998 and 2002, among other offences.
After his election as FIFA boss 1998, he had agreed to cooperate with Platini, Blatter said.
The latter had told him: “I am worth a million.”
In August 1999, a contract backdated to the beginning of the year was agreed with a salary of 300,000 Swiss francs.
When Platini pointed out that this was not the full amount agreed, Blatter said, “We’ll see about that later.”
In 2011, the sum of two million Swiss francs was invoiced by Platini, who is also scheduled to be questioned on Thursday before the first witnesses are also heard.
Blatter, 86, was originally scheduled to be questioned on Wednesday’s opening day of the trial but this was delayed due to his feeling unwell.
Both men protested their innocence ahead of the trial over 11 days to June 22, with a verdict to follow on July 8.
(dpa/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Africa
AU sends condolences to Kenya over death of defence chief, others in helicopter crash
Ten senior commanders, including chief of the Kenya Defence Forces Francis Ogolla, were killed in a helicopter crash in the country’s northwest.
World
UN appeals for restraint after Israeli strike on Iran
U.S. media have widely reported that Israel fired at least one missile at Iran early Friday.
World
German Chancellor Scholz says diplomatic efforts around Ukraine peace talks progressing
Mr Scholz emphasised that he was in agreement with the Chinese leadership on the need for peace conferences in Switzerland to discuss the war.
World
U.S., Nigeria set to collaborate on digital economy, AI
Mr Brown commended Nigeria for its support for the adoption of a landmark United Nations resolution on AI.
World
Attorney general says Australia facing ‘crisis’ of male violence, urges men to stop attacks on women
In a speech at a family violence event on Friday, Mark Dreyfus called on men in Australia to step up and prevent violence against women.
Africa
ECOWAS allocates $25 million to fight terrorism in Nigeria, Mali, others
“Out of a fund of $25 million intended for the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, Burkina, Mali and Niger, ECOWAS has reserved $4 million for humanitarian actions,