In this May 29 file picture FIFA president Sepp Blatter, right, walks past Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, left, and UEFA President Michel Platini, center, during the 65th FIFA Congress held n Zurich, Switzerland.
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The tribunal is to release its verdict on Monday and FIFA’s ethics investigators have called for Platini to face a life ban.
Blatter attended a hearing Thursday while Platini was represented by his lawyer on Friday.
Blatter called for the case to be dropped at the hearing saying there was nothing to support misconduct allegations, his lawyers said.
FIFA’s ethics committee has asked for sanctions against Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini after finishing investigations into their alleged financial wrongdoing.
However, speaking after the hearing, D’Ales insisted: “Mr Platini is innocent”.
Platini has said the verdict was decided in advance and refused to attend the hearing in Switzerland, leaving his legal team to fight his corner. He had a contract for 300,000 Swiss francs, in line with FIFA’s then-wage structure, plus a “gentleman’s agreement” to get the rest later.
There may be further challenges ahead, and it will take time for these reforms to take effect, but our resolve to rebuild Federation Internationale de Football Association for the better remains steadfast. Blatter’s opponent in that election, Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar, said weeks later he was ready to discuss a power-sharing deal with Platini as a condition of securing European votes.
If the 60-year-old Platini receives a ban of four years, it will likely finish his career in soccer politics.
World football’s governing body has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since summer 2015.
As finance director, Kattner was involved in signing off on the payment to Platini.
Football deserves “nothing less” than a rebuilt and fully accountable Fifa, says acting president Issa Hayatou.
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If found guilty, Blatter and Platini can go to FIFA’s appeal committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
