Sepp Blatter’s health had improved and the game could get started in the Swiss Court yesterday with both the former FIFA boss and his one-time ‘Technical Consultant’ Michel Platini both giving evidence in their trial on charges of illegally arranging a €1.9 million payment.
They outlined how when Blatter stepped up to the role as a career administrator, he felt the need to have football experience by his side.
Platini was recognised as one of the finest players in the game and was obviously not shy of staying involved in the game, going on to become President of FIFA.
The finger-in-the-air valuation of his worth was one million French francs but Blatter did not feel at the time that he could sanction a salary at the time of more than 30 per cent of that.
They agreed that they ‘would look at it later’ and when Platini subsequently sent in an invoice for the ‘balance’ almost a decade later, Blatter approved it and the money was paid within ten days.
Platini said that he had not needed the money previously and that he never doubted the world of Blatter. He saw in 2010 that a number of FIFA officials had been paid sums of money and decided in fairness that he should get the outstanding amount resolved.
Now the trial will dive into whether this ‘gentleman’s agreement’ was right to have in place at all, and whether the payment was in fact legal.
“It was an agreement between two sportsmen,” Blatter told the court. “I found nothing wrong with that.
The trial continues with evidence expected until June 20th and a verdict on July 8th.
Sport for Business Partners
