“I am still the president'' - Read Sepp Blatter's strong reaction to 8 year football ban

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has responded
to his 8year ban from football by FIFA's
Independent Ethics Committee after the
committee said he wrongfully paid 2million Swiss
francs (£1.35m) to Michel Platini in 2011.
Despite the pair's protests that they did nothing
wrong when Blatter paid the former UEFA
president the money nine years after both men
claimed it was originally due, Blatter was fined
50,000 Swiss francs or £34,000 and Platini 80,000
Swiss francs or £54,000 in addition to being
banned.
Speaking at a press conference this morning in
Zurich where he spoke German, English, French
and Spanish in the space of five minutes, 79 year
old Blatter wearing a plaster on his face, claimed
that he was a victim, that he remains president
of FIFA and that he will take his case to the court
of arbitration for sport.
“To say that it is a good day for me or for
FIFA, it would be totally wrong” Blatter
said. “You can identify me as an optimist.
Together with a Swiss lawyer, we thought
that we had convinced the panel, with Mr
Eckert in the chair, about the situation with
the payment. We thought that we were in a
situation that was clear, with a clean sheet.
“We had a oral contract, a gentleman’s
agreement. This was made in 1998 after
the World Cup. What astonished me now
when I talk about the decision today is that
they deny the existence of such an
agreement. This agreement was confirmed
by two meetings. We have the proof that
this agreement existed. “Therefore the 2m
Swiss francs paid to Platini went through
the finance committee, the executive
committee and was done in good terms.
This is a donation. This is a gift. We
avoided the issue of corruption. We did this
because this arrangement was in the Fifa
books. You can have oral contracts. Once
again we go to the appeal committee. We
go to Cas, the court of arbitration for sport.
There might have been an administrative
error, but this was nothing to do with the
ethics. This cannot be proven. If it cannot
be proven, then it cannot be guilty.” Blatter
continued to defend himself, making
reference to the late Nelson Mandela. “Mr
Mandela was talking about humanity.
Humanity needs no other significance than
to respect each other and I say that to
celebrate humanity through football was
created by this great humanist. “I will fight,”
he added. “I will fight for me and I will fight
for Fifa. Suspended for what? I spoke with
my lawyer this morning and we were not
surprised that the notification was made
first to the media. This committee has no
right to go against the president of Fifa.
The president can only be removed by the
congress. Even suspended, I am still the
president. I regret, but I am not ashamed.
“I’m really sorry. I’m sorry that I am still
somewhere a punching ball. As president of
Fifa, I’m still this punching ball. I’m sorry
for Fifa. I’m sorry for football. I’m also
sorry about me. How I am treated in this
world. “Human beings needs to be
respected. It has created a lot of collateral
damage in the families. My family was
mocked. I regret I am this punching bag.

FIFA is still working well, I congratulate
Barcelona to winning the Club World Cup. I
am a man of principles. These principles
are: never take money that is not earned.
Secondly, pay your debts. I’ll be back”