Bellinzona (AP) – Joseph Blatter denied the allegations during his interrogation in the trial against him and Michel Platini and complained about prejudice in the media.
The former FIFA President told the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, that it was “totally incomprehensible” to him that the incident was in a courtroom. The payment of two million Swiss francs to Michel Platini went through all the necessary bodies at the world association. “It’s an owed late payment of wages. It’s an administrative matter in a club and it’s dealt with under civil law,” said Blatter.
The questioning by a public prosecutor in 2015 about the allegations shocked him. “This shock has lasted seven years now, this shock is still there.” At that time he had already received the “maximum penalty” and was “outlawed” in the world. “The media have given me a criminal record,” Blatter said.
Blatter and Platini are said to have cheated
The defendants are accused of misleading the world governing body over an alleged outstanding claim from former UEFA President Platinis. According to the indictment, Blatter is said to have unlawfully confirmed FIFA’s payment of two million francs (currently around 1.92 million euros) plus social security contributions to Platini. They have to answer for allegations of fraud and other crimes.