11 July – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s last-ditch appeal against his ban from football will be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on August 25.
Blatter and the then UEFA president Michel Platini were originally handed eight-year bans by FIFA’s ethics committee in December over the infamous SFr2.2 million “disloyal payment” FIFA made, with Blatter’s blessing, to his one-time ally in 2011.
Both bans were reduced to six years by FIFA’s appeals committee in February and Platini’s cut by a further two years – to four – when he went to CAS in May.
But the CAS panel backed the original FIFA decision that the payment, the balance Platini was owed for consultancy work he did for Blatter between 1999-2002, was not legitimate. Both men counter that the money, which was paid shortly before Platini decided not to run against Blatter in the 2011 FIFA presidential election, was based on an oral “gentleman’s agreement”.
Blatter, now in his 80s, said any CAS decision will not affect his career which effectively came to an end after 18 years in charge of FIFA. But he is keen to clear his name and save his reputation, partially at least, even though he is still under criminal investigation in Switzerland over the transaction and other aspects of his management of FIFA.
Meanwhile Blatter has undergone minor surgery on his left ear to treat a concern over skin cancer. In December he underwent surgery to remove a small growth on a cheek but close associates said his condition was “fine” and that he has now returned home after spending one night in a clinic.
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