Michel Platini has defended himself over the payment
he received from Sepp Blatter, stating it was "carried
out under a contract with FIFA".
Michel Platini has claimed a lack of funds at FIFA was the
reason why he was not paid for nine years for work carried out
on behalf of the organisation's president Sepp Blatter.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) opened
proceedings against Blatter last week on suspicion of criminal
mismanagement and misappropriation, which also uncovered a
"disloyal payment" to Platini in 2011 in relation to work
done between 1999 and 2002 when the Frenchman was a
special advisor to the 79-year-old.
UEFA president Platini - who is in the running to succeed
the departing Blatter at the head of FIFA in February – also
reiterated his claim that all moneys received had been declared
with Swiss authorities.
He told AFP: "I was employed by FIFA as a special advisor to
President Sepp Blatter, working on various matters related to
football, such as the international football calendar. It was a full-
time job.
"Like I explained to the Swiss authorities, I received only part of
the agreed salary between 1998 to 2002.
"This occurred because at the time, FIFA informed me that they
would not be able to pay me the total agreed amount. Of course
all the moneys received at the time were declared to the
pertinent authorities.
"Mr Blatter informed me when I started my role as his advisor
that it was not initially possible to pay the totality of my salary
because of FIFA’s financial situation at that time.
"I never doubted, however, that the remaining amount owed to
me would be paid eventually, so I did not actively pursue it. I
even put the matter to the side for a while, before finally
requesting that the outstanding balance was paid in 2011.
"Like I have said, the outstanding amount for the work I did was
paid when I finally requested it to FIFA.
"The fact that this payment was made a few months before the
FIFA Presidential elections is irrelevant since I never had any
plans of becoming a candidate. As a matter of fact, I was
extremely happy to be re-elected as UEFA president at the UEFA
congress in Paris in March of 2011."
When asked if he feared proceedings being opened against him,
Platini said: "Absolutely not. I was heard last week by the Swiss
Authorities only as a person providing information and I co-
operated fully.
"I have to say, however, that I am disappointed with the
speculation in some media, especially the one coming from a
French tabloid that talks about there being "doubt" around me.
"There is no doubt about my integrity. I have done nothing
wrong. That is why I have made myself fully available to co-
operate with the relevant bodies and authorities to clarify
whatever may be necessary."
