FIFA Hears Sepp Blatter Appeal

(ATR) DisgracedSepp Blatter returned to FIFA headquarters Tuesday to appeal his eight-year ban for financial misconduct.

According to reports, the 79-year-old arrived 7.30am local time, dodging journalists and photographers.

His hearing before FIFA’s appeals committee followed Michel Platini’s legal challenge on Monday.

The pair received eight-year bans in December from FIFA's ethics committee for breaching four articles of the governing body's code of ethics. The sanctions were handed down for the $2 million "disloyal payment" FIFA made to Platini in 2011, signed off by Blatter, for his work as a consultant to the FIFA chief from 1998-2002.

Platini said yesterday he had "done nothing and I'm not afraid of anything".

"If I had anything to reproach myself for, I would be hiding in Siberia in shame," he told L'Equipe.

"Is it Blatter who put me in this situation? Not at all, he is in the same situation as me. Someone pushed the button and I will try to find out who."

FIFA’s ethics investigatory chamber has appealed for tougher sanctions, saying the eight-year bans are too lenient.

Verdicts from the appeals committee chaired by Bermuda Football Association president Larry Mussenden could come later this week. The committee can reduce, increase or overturn the suspensions.

If their appeals fail they would be unable to attend the Feb. 26 FIFA Congress. Both men would then take their cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"If either Mr. Blatter or Mr. Platini wish to appeal the decision taken by the FIFA appeals committee, they will have to do so within 21 days of receiving the decision," a spokeswoman for the CAS told Around the Rings.

Written byMark Bisson

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