“Sepp Blatter to appeal FIFA ban,” – Lawyer

As the saga at world football governing body, FIFA, continues to unfold, the American lawyer for the outgoing president Sepp Blatter on Sunday confirmed he would launch an appeal against his eight-year ban, AFP reports.

The confirmation came after FIFA’s independent Ethics tribunal on Saturday revealed it had provided Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini with the reasons for imposing the ban, paving the way for both men to pursue an appeal if they so desired.

Sepp Blatter is to appeal his 8-year ban Image: Fifa

“We will appeal it, of course,” US-based attorney Richard Cullen confirmed to AFP.

The axing of the two biggest names in the sport –Blatter and his former protégé Platini – didn’t come as a surprise after they had initially received 90-day bans following a Swiss attorney general investigation into alleged irregularities at FIFA.

Platini, who was a forerunner in the race to replace Blatter at the head of world football, had earlier said he would appeal the ban and clear his name. He has since withdrawn from the presidential race – citing time constraint as a factor.

Blatter and Michel Platini at a Fifa function. Image: Sky Sports

In December, FIFA’s ethics tribunal found both men guilty of abuse of office over a 2 million Swiss francs payment made to Platini in 2011 for work he’d supposedly done between 1999 and 2002.

Blatter, who has headed FIFA since 1998, was fined 50 000 Swiss francs while Platini, a FIFA vice-president, was fined 80,000 Swiss francs. The court held that there was a conflict of interest regarding the ‘disloyal’ payment and FIFA.

The election to succeed Blatter comes up February 26.

Source: AFP