situation with FIFA president Sepp Blatter by writing to
UEFA member associations.
UEFA president Michel Platini has written to UEFA's member
associations after a payment made to him by Sepp Blatter
formed part of criminal proceedings opened against the Swiss.
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 by authorities of making a "disloyal
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.
FIFA presidential candidate Platini said in a statement on Friday
he had co-operated with Swiss authorities over the Blatter
proceedings and, after Blatter confirmed he would not stand
down ahead of FIFA's Extraordinary Congress in February
despite the investigation, Platini acknowledged concerns over
his image and reputation in the wake of recent events.
In his letter, Platini wrote: "I am sure that you have all taken
note of the events that occurred last Friday in Zurich.
"I am also aware that in this matter, there is speculation about
the facts that concern me personally. You will surely understand
that firstly I have not been accused of any wrongdoing, and
secondly that as a matter of respect, I will refrain from making
detailed statements in connection with the ongoing
investigation.
"Still, for reasons of transparency, I would like to inform you
about the following important aspects.
"I wish to clarify that for the period 1998 to 2002 I was employed
by FIFA to work on a wide range of matters relating to football.
It was a full-time job and my functions were known by all. The
remuneration was agreed at the time and after initial payments
were made the final outsatdning amount of 2 million Swiss
Francs was paid in February of 2011.
"This income has all been fully declared by me to the authorities,
in accordance with Swiss law.
"I was interviewed by the Swiss authorities about this matter
last Friday, not as a person accused of any wrongdoing, but
simply in my capacity as a person providing information.
"Furthermore, I have, today, written to the Ethics Committee of
FIFA to request that I may come forward and provide whatever
additional information may be needed in order to clear this
matter up.
"I am aware that these events may harm my image and my
reputation and by consequence, the image of UEFA, the
organisation of which I am proud to be president. For these
reasons, I wish to use all my energies to ensure that any issues
or misunderstandings can be resolved as soon as possible."
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