Sepp Blatter

Ex-FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, who was banned from all footballing activities in 2015 for eight years, has appealed for the reconsideration of his case and lifting of the ban. Blatter, who was the president of FIFA for 17 years, was indicted for a payment of two million Swiss francs to the then head of Europe¿s governing body UEFA and a FIFA vice-president, Michel Platini. He called quits on his term at the helm of FIFA soon after an outbreak of scandals came his way.

He and Platini were banned by a FIFA ethics tribunal for eight years promptly after the Swiss attorney-general¿s office began criminal proceedings against him on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation, though the ban was later reduced to six years. He has repeatedly claimed innocence in the case, denying any wrongdoings, suggesting he would resort to legal action in an attempt to clear his name.

The investigation, which started in September 2015, has already been drawn out too long and is wearing Blatter¿s patience thin. He wants the investigation to speed up and finish before the start of the World Cup in Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Blatter to attend the tournament in Russia in June this year, to which he reportedly accepted and felt honoured.