No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessPlatini deal was 'gentleman's agreement' - FIFA's Blatter

Platini deal was ‘gentleman’s agreement’ – FIFA’s Blatter

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed on Friday that the $2 million payment he made to UEFA president Michel Platini was a “gentleman’s agreement.”

“It was a contract I had with Platini, a gentleman’s agreement,” the 79-year-old said in an interview with Swiss media RROTV.

“It was implemented. I can’t give any more details, the issue is being discussed in two investigations.”

Asked directly if the contract had been made within the rules, Blatter added: “Yes, certainly, it was within the rules.”

Blatter and Platini, 60, have both been suspended for 90 days by FIFA’s ethics committee as Swiss authorities conduct a criminal investigation into corruption allegations at the scandal-tainted world football governing body.

Blatter defiantly backed his right to discuss the ongoing controversy and investigation.

“I don’t have the right to go to a football stadium, but I do have the right to talk to whoever I want,” he added.

“I am not sidelined, I am only suspended.”

Recommended: 4 reasons why FIFA’s Sepp Blatter must step down immediately

Blatter, who has been in charge of FIFA since 1998, still intends to be present when the FIFA congress meets on February 26 to elect a new president.

“My goal is to preside over the congress, that is my objective. I don’t believe it will be postponed.”

Blatter also blasted the international media for “pre-judging” him, saying his suspension had been a “shock.”

He added he was baffled by the decision to bar him from his office.

“I have not stolen, I haven’t killed, I haven’t favored anybody!”

The suspension, he said, had given him “time to think” and that he was “doing fine, even if it is a difficult period.”

See also: Switzerland approves extradition to US of Costa Rican FIFA official Eduardo Li

Trending Now

Costa Rica Route 27 to Use Reversible Lane This Sunday

Costa Rica's Route 27 will operate with a reversible lane this Sunday, May 3, as authorities prepare for heavy return traffic from the Pacific...

Habitat Loss Threatens Costa Rica’s Native Monkey Species

Costa Rica’s native monkeys are facing growing pressure as forest loss, coastal development, and habitat fragmentation push several species toward local extinction. Three of...

Costa Rica Court Orders Urgent Action to Protect Tempisque River

Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court has ordered several state agencies and local governments to act together to address the degradation of the Tempisque River, after...

Spirit Airlines Shuts Down Leaving Costa Rica Travelers Scrambling

Travelers heading to or from Costa Rica face sudden disruption after Spirit Airlines announced early Saturday it is shutting down all operations and liquidating,...

Costa Rica Begins New Era as Laura Fernández Takes Office

Laura Fernández will be sworn in today as our new president, opening a four-year term shaped by promises of tougher security policies, closer alignment...

Salvadoran Newspaper Says Bukele Froze Partners’ Assets After Documentary

The influential digital newspaper El Faro denounced on Thursday that the government of Nayib Bukele froze assets belonging to its partners in retaliation for...
Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel