Sepp Blatter Appeals Against FIFA’s 90-Day Suspension

FIFA’s suspended president Sepp Blatter is appealing against his 90-day ban from soccer’s world governing body.

Sepp Blatter, 79, has been suspended from all duties while FIFA’s ethics committee investigates corruption claims against its leader.

The Swiss was suspended on October 8 along with secretary general Jerome Valcke and Vice-president Michel Platini.

Michel Platini will contest the ban “in the appropriate manner at the appropriate time”. All three deny any wrongdoing.

David Gill, a FIFA vice-president and the vice-chairman of the FA, has written to Markus Kattner, FIFA’s acting secretary general, to request an emergency meeting of the governing body’s executive committee.

FIFA’s ethics committee began its investigation into Sepp Blatter after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against him in September.

Sepp Blatter is accused of signing a contract “unfavorable” to FIFA and making a “disloyal payment” to Michel Platini.

The ethics committee also opened an inquiry into Michel Platini over the 2 million euros payment, which was made nine years after the 60-year-old Frenchman carried out consultation work for Sepp Blatter.

Jerome Valcke was already on gardening leave from his FIFA position following newspaper allegations last month which implicated the 55-year-old in a scheme to profit from the sale of World Cup tickets.

His lawyer said that his client was “confident” he will be fully cleared of the “false allegations” when “all the facts come out”.

Sepp Blatter won a fifth consecutive presidential election in May, but he announced he would be stepping down just days later following the launch of two investigations into FIFA by US and Swiss authorities.

He is due to finish his term on February 26, when a new president will be elected.

Michel Platini, who also heads European soccer body UEFA, is one of the favorites to replace Sepp Blatter and still plans to stand.