In the case of the suspicious payment which also threatens Michel Platini, Sepp Blatter is not afraid but he still wants a little time.

Aged 85, the former FIFA president "does not fear a trial", however he is "not yet ready" to attend physically, due to his state of health, he explains. he in an interview with

Le Matin

.

“I am not afraid of a trial.

Because the lawyers, not only mine, but also that of Michel Platini and other Zurich lawyers, like those with whom I had a meeting again this Thursday at noon, also find it incredible, explains the former boss of FIFA in the Swiss newspaper in its Sunday edition.

But “Physically, I'm not ready yet.

I couldn't hold a trial right now, ”adds Sepp Blatter.

Hearing already delayed for health problems

This case, which shattered the careers of the two most powerful men in world football, concerns the payment by FIFA of 2 million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros) to Michel Platini in early 2011, without written justification, by order of Blatter. The latter was heard in early August in Zurich by a Swiss prosecutor. His hearing had been delayed for several months by his state of health.

Sepp Blatter is being prosecuted for "suspicion of fraud, breach of trust and unfair management", while the criminal proceedings against Michel Platini are being carried out for "suspicion of fraud, participation in breach of trust, participation in a unfair management and forgery in titles ”. Platini had been heard one last time in mid-March. He is now awaiting the decision of the public prosecutor's office, which could either pronounce a dismissal or pave the way for a trial before the Federal Criminal Court of Bellinzona.

Blatter and Platini hammer relentlessly that this is a balance of payment for an advisory work carried out by the French between 1999 and 2002. FIFA, led since 2016 by Gianni Infantino, for its part deplores the absence of written contract mentioning at the time such remuneration, and demands Platini to reimburse the 2 million Swiss francs.

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