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| Michel Platini said Sepp Blatter was the most selfish person he had ever known |
Ex-UEFA president Michel Platini has criticised former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, saying the Swiss who led footballโs world body for 17 years was determined to make him โhis last scalpโ.
Platini and Blatter were banned from all football-related activities, initially for eight years, over a 2 million Swiss francs payment FIFA made to Platini in 2011, with Blatterโs approval, for work done a decade earlier.
The Frenchman said the 81-year-old Blatter was the most selfish person he had ever known. โHe thought he would grow old, finish then die and be buried in FIFA. It was his wish,โ Platini told Le Monde in an interview.
โHe always said that I would be his last scalp. I know he had a fixation on me, to the end. Donโt always believe what Blatter says. Heโll always tell you what you want to hear but heโs an exceptional political animal,โ he added.
The Frenchman, 61, told Le Monde the affair that led to his ban was โnot over yetโ, although he did not elaborate.
He was sanctioned by FIFAโs ethics committee after Blatter authorised the 2 million Swiss francs payment to Platini that amounted to โundue giftsโ and violated FIFAโs code of ethics.
โI still donโt know what Iโve done wrong,โ said Platini.
Blatter has also always denied any wrongdoing.
The bans given to Platini and Blatter were cut to six years by FIFAโs appeals committee before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) then reduced Platiniโs suspension to four years.
