Blatter expects two-year suspension or lifetime ban

Suspended world football’s governing body FIFA president Sepp Blatter expects to be either barred for two years and fined 160,000 Swiss francs ($161,591) or be given a lifetime ban for alleged corruption.

According to media reports on Wednesday, Blatter criticised the leaking of the Ethics Committee ruling to the press, reminding the committee’s rules to suspend members who do not respect confidentiality, reports Efe.

On the corruption prosecution hanging over him and FIFA vice president Michel Platini, the Swiss replied that in football he has never done anything that made him feel guilty in his conscience or in the field of law. He added he can go to any court with a clear mind.

Asked what his opinion is of the intentions of the Ethics Committee, he said he does not know if it aims to prevent Platini, also head of European football’s governing body, from being elected as the next FIFA president or its sole aim is to remove him.

He reiterated that Platini is “an honest man”, denying there had been an agreement between the two that he would let Platini succeed him.