FIFA Corruption: I've done nothing wrong and will not step down as FIFA president - Sepp Blatter

Embattled FIFA Supremo Sepp Blatter said he will remain as president of World football governing body FIFA despite the increasing pressure currently on him to stand down.
The 79-year-old Swiss explained "he had done nothing illegal or improper" after criminal proceedings were opened against him by the Swiss attorney general last week precisely Friday.

On Friday the Swiss attorney general’s office said Blatter was being investigated "on suspicion of criminal mismanagement as well as alternatively - on suspicion of misappropriation.”
The investigations relate to two separate transactions involving Blatter, UEFA president Michel Platini and former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner. Although not proven guilty, this would be the first time Mr. Blatter would be directly indicted since all the FIFA corruption volcano erupted.
Mr. Blatter is suspected of making a “disloyal payment” of two million Swiss francs  around £1.3m  to Mr. Platini which was “at the expense of FIFA.”

It is also understood he is being investigated about a TV deal he struck with Warner in 2005.
But he told staff today that he had done "nothing illegal or improper" and remains adamant he will continue to be FIFA president until February next year as normally planned.
A statement from his attorney said: “President Blatter spoke to FIFA staff today and informed the staff that he was cooperating with the authorities, reiterated that he had done nothing illegal or improper and stated that he would remain as president of FIFA.
“On the (UEFA President Michel) Platini matter, President Blatter on Friday shared with the Swiss authorities the fact that Mr. Platini had a valuable employment relationship with FIFA serving as an adviser to the president beginning in 1998.
“He explained to the prosecutors that the payments were valid compensation and nothing more and were properly accounted for within FIFA including the withholding of Social Security contributions.
“Because of the continuing investigation President Blatter will answer no further questions at this time.”
Mr. Blatter intends to stick to his original plan of standing down at the beginning of 2016.
The election to decide who will replace the Swiss at the helm of affairs of the world football's governing body will take place on 26 February next year.
Meanwhile, Michel Platini who also has been thrown into the ring of this Corruption fire for the first time released a letter he has sent to the 54 UEFA associations insisting the payment had been above board and declared to the Swiss authorities but he did not address the burning issue of why it had taken nine years for the money to be paid to him…nice question




Platini's Letter in full 

Dear Sir or Madam,
I am sure that you have all taken note of the events that occurred last Friday in Zurich.
I am also aware that in this matter, there is speculation about the facts that concern me personally. You will surely understand that firstly I have not been accused of any wrongdoing, and secondly that as a matter of respect, I will refrain from making detailed statements in connection with the ongoing investigation.
Still, for reasons of transparency, I would like to inform you about the following important aspects.
I wish to clarify that for the period of 1998 to 2002 I was employed by FIFA to work on a wide range of matters relating to football. It was a full-time job and my functions were known by all.
The remuneration was agreed at the time and after initial payments were made, the final outstanding among of 2 million Swiss Francs was paid in February of 2011.
This income has been fully declared by me to the authorities, in accordance with Swiss law.
I was interviewed by the Swiss authorities about this matter last Friday, not as a person accused of any wrongdoing, but simply in my capacity as a person providing information.
Furthermore, I have, today, written to the Ethics Committee of FIFA to request that I may come forward and provide whatever additional information may be needed in order to clear this matter up.
I am aware that these events may harm my image and my reputation and by consequence, the image of UEFA, the organisation of which I am proud to be President.
For these reasons, I wish to use all my energies to ensure that any issues or misunderstandings can be resolved as soon as possible.
Your sincerely,
Michel Platini
Mr. Platini is thought and considered to be the frontrunner and the most favourable candidate to replace Blatter in February but if found guilty, what a twist it’ll be.