he received from Sepp Blatter, stating it was "carried
out under a contract with FIFA".
UEFA president Michel Platini has responded to accusations he
received a "disloyal payment" from Sepp Blatter after Swiss
authorities opened criminal proceedings against the FIFA
president on Friday.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) opened
proceedings against Blatter on suspicion of criminal
mismanagement and misappropriation, with the FIFA
president suspected of signing a contract with the Caribbean
Football Union (CFU), then led by former FIFA heavyweight Jack
Warner, in 2005 that market experts claim handed World Cup
television rights for the 2010 event in South Africa and the 2014
showpiece in Brazil to Warner for a fraction of their value.
Blatter is also accused of making a payment to Platini in 2011
in relation to work carried out by him between 1999 and 2002
when the Frenchman was a special advisor to the 79-year-old.
Former France great Platini - who is set to stand to become
Blatter's successor at the Extraordinary Congress next year -
released a statement explaining the payment was made under a
contract with FIFA and that he had discussed the matter with
the Swiss authorities.
"Today I was asked by the Swiss authorities to provide
information relating to the ongoing investigations surrounding
FIFA," it read.
"I have always been open to supporting the relevant bodies and
authorities in their investigative work and therefore cooperated
fully.
"Regarding the payment that was made to me, I wish to state
that this amount relates to work which I carried out under a
contract with FIFA and I was pleased to have been able to
clarify all matters relating to this with the authorities.
"Today I also made clear to the Swiss authorities that since I
live in Switzerland I am available to speak with them any time
to clarify any matters relating to the investigations."
Platini is one of a number of candidates due to stand for world
football's top job in February following Blatter's decision to step
down shortly after being re-elected for a fifth term in May.
The Swiss had been re-elected against the backdrop of nine
past and present officials being indicted for
racketeering conspiracy and corruption under an investigation
by United States and Swiss authorities before announcing his
decision to stand down.
With the fallout from the corruption allegations continuing to dog
FIFA, Blatter cancelled a scheduled press conference at the end
of the ExCo meeting in Zurich where he was set to field difficult
questions regarding the situation of general secretary Jerome
Valcke - currently on leave following claims he was linked to
a scheme intending to sell tickets for the 2014 World Cup in
Brazil at above their face value before the contract was
cancelled.
He was also set to be quizzed on the location of the next ExCo
meeting, with Blatter having been reluctant to leave Switzerland
for fear of extradition. The meeting has since been moved from
Tokyo to Zurich.
OAG then questioned Blatter after the ExCo meeting while also
conducting a house search at FIFA headquarters with the
support of the Federal Criminal Police.
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