Blatter Brands Swiss Inquiry 'Outrageous'

Outgoing FIFA President Sepp Blatter has criticised a criminal investigation against him in Switzerland, claiming it is "outrageous".

He has also defended his decision to remain as head of the football organising body and not step down immediately, as worldwide sponsors have urged .

Mr Blatter, who has held the presidency of the sport's world governing body since 1998, said in an interview with German magazine Bunte: "The situation is not pleasant."

He added: "I am being condemned without there being any evidence for wrongdoing on my part.

"That is really outrageous."

Mr Blatter shocked the world of football in June when, just four days after winning a fifth term, he announced he would step down next year in the wake of corruption investigations by US and Swiss authorities.

But he reiterated to the magazine his plans to stay in office until a successor is elected in February.

"This is just an investigation, not an indictment," he said.

"I will fight until 26 February. For myself. For FIFA. I am convinced that evil will come to light and good will prevail."

Mr Blatter is suspected of "criminal mismanagement or misappropriation" and his office has been searched.

The allegations relate to suspicion over a "disloyal payment" of 2m Swiss francs (£1.3m) to UEFA president Michel Platini.

The payment was "allegedly made for work performed between January 1999 and June 2002".

Mr Platini said the payment "relates to work which I carried out under a contract" and he "was pleased to have been able to clarify all matters" to the authorities. The Frenchman is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, the Korean billionaire who is running to succeed Mr Blatter said he planned to sue him for "embezzlement".

Speaking at the Leaders sport business summit in London, Chung Mong-Joon, a former FIFA vice-president, said: "FIFA has become a badge of shame.

"To call it a mafia is almost insulting to mafia, so blatant and arrogant is its corruption.

"At FIFA money and power have blinded Blatter in the virtues of sportsmanship. Mr Blatter in short is a hypocrite and a liar."