FIFA: "Platini is innocent, like me. This is an accounting case, not an ethical matter" (J. Blatter)

"Platini is innocent, like me. There's nothing to it. This is an accounting case, not an ethical matter. There was an oral agreement, which is allowed in Swiss law and in the FIFA regulations. When you pay a debt, there is no reason to make it the business of everyone in the world," said Joseph Blatter, live on RMC radio on 18/02/2016, about a controversial payment of 2 million Swiss francs (€1.54m at the time of payment), on 01/02/2011, made to Michel Platini for his role as an advisor between 1999 and 2002.

The elected president of FIFA since 08/06/1998, Blatter has been suspended from any activity in football since 08/10/2015. Joseph Blatter has been sentenced to an eight-year ban on 21/12/2015, and appealled to the FIFA Appeal Committee on 16/02/2016.

"Four of the five candidates contacted me (the exception was Prince Ali, suggested Joseph Blatter, see list below). I can not take sides. It is not possible. Several federations asked me who they should vote for. I told them to make their own decisions," said Joseph Blatter regarding the election of his successor, to be held at an…