Joseph Blatter: “Unfortunately for Platini, he was with me in the same boat” – SPORT – EXPRESS

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter in an interview with Tass said that he was dismissed because the ethics committee gave in to pressure from the outside. He noted that despite the suspension, the Committee on Reform of the continued use of his ideas.

– Do you not see the irony in the fact that as a result of the ethics committee of FIFA suspended from football activities 90 days not only you and the Secretary General Jerome Valcke, but Platini himself.

– In general, it is nonsense when you removes a committee consisting of people who you yourself hired. At the same time they do not even have the courage to listen to me, nor the Secretary General nor Platini. In any developed society to sentencing in any area of ​​the principle of presumption of innocence and the accused give the word. But we do this right has been denied. Quickly was conducted some general investigation, and three days later I was dismissed.

– Why ethics committee decided to take this step, do you think?

– stems from the pressure from the media and want to take the place of the FIFA President. Unfortunately for Platini, he was with me in the same boat because of the contract. And the ethics committee wanted to show that not a servant of the FIFA President, he is absolutely independent. This perverse logic. To be independent, not necessarily to make an enemy of the FIFA President.

– What are your next steps? How do you fight with your dismissal?

– We are fighting with the removal of two levels. I appealed to the FIFA Appeal Committee, which should give me the right to speak, it is spelled out in the charter. At the same time appealed to the ethics committee of FIFA to reconsider the decision.

– When you want to hear the verdict?

– They will not be with him hurry ( laughing ).

– Why do you suspended? Is it because you could take some uncomfortable for many solutions?

– Good question. But, believe me, I am in FIFA for 40 years, a good sense of the organization and did not think I wanted to stop. And without me Reform Committee made a number of proposals to reform FIFA and I am the author of many of the ideas that are developed by the Committee.