ZURICH – Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter appeared before the world body’s ethics judges Thursday to answer corruption allegations as Switzerland announced it has frozen tens of millions of dollars in accounts linked to soccer bribes.
Blatter, who with vice president Michel Platini faces a long suspension, arrived at FIFA’s base in Zurich in a black Mercedes with his lawyer. He made no comment as he entered.
Before the hearing, Blatter, 79, wrote a letter to FIFA’s 209 members calling the FIFA ethics commission’s investigators “the inquisition.”
Blatter is under criminal investigation in Switzerland over a two million Swiss francs ($2 million) payment made to Platini in 2011 for work carried out about a decade earlier.
Platini’s case will be heard on Friday, but he has said he will boycott the tribunal. His lawyers will go however.
Platini has said the verdict has been decided in advance and his lawyers say FIFA’s ethics committee has recommended a life ban for the French soccer legend.
Blatter and Platini deny any misconduct.
The ethics committee chamber is expected to announce its verdict next Monday. Appeals to a FIFA appeal committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport are then possible.
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