Gbam! Sepp Blatter Appeals Against FIFA Suspension

 

It will be recalled that Blatter, the Swiss who has been president of the global soccer body FIFA since 1998, was suspended on Thursday by the association's ethics committee. The 79-year-old is currently facing a Swiss criminal investigation.

 

A report by The New York Times reveals that Blatter sent a letter to Hans-Joachim Eckert, the German judge who leads the adjudicatory chamber of the ethics committee.

Blatter complained in the letter to FIFA’s judge that he had only found out about his suspension after it was made public on Thursday. He also complained of the brusque and unfair treatment he received and demanded a hearing to argue his case in full.

UEFA leader Michel Platini has also been suspended for 90 days pending an investigation, and has already announced his intention to appeal.

Swiss investigators are looking into a two million dollar payment made by FIFA to Platini in 2011.

The Frenchman and Blatter have strongly denied any wrongdoing. A suspension could rule the 60-year-old Platini out of the race to replace Blatter in the election in February.