Blatter insists he didn't break the law. 'It's a witch hunt'

Former FIFA president Joseph Blatter has called the appeal process into corruption allegations a “witch hunt.” Ahead of Monday’s hearing, the 88-year-old Swiss has maintained he has not broken any laws and is an honest man.

Blatter was FIFA's head from 1998 to 2015, but left before the end of his last term amid scandal. He was suspended after it emerged that two million Swiss francs had been transferred from the world association's accounts to Michel Platini, then president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Both officials explained at the time that it was payment for work the Frenchman had done for FIFA years earlier, but due to financial problems at the world headquarters, he could not receive it immediately. Therefore, they entered into an oral agreement to postpone payment. In 2022, a Swiss court cleared both men of the charges, but the prosecutor's office appealed the verdict.

"The Federal Criminal Court found in 2022 that the contract between Platini and me was concluded correctly and I expect the next court to confirm this decision. This appeal is complete nonsense, a witch hunt. I feel like this is some kind of revenge. I am convinced that I will be cleared of the charges because I am an honest man," Blatter told Reuters.

The 88-year-old Swiss is due to be questioned again on Monday. The appeals court's verdict is expected to be announced at the end of March.