Corruption charge dropped

FIFA's suspended president Sepp Blatter says the world body's ethics watchdog have dropped corruption charges against him over a suspect two million dollar payment.

FIFA have investigated the cash payment which Blatter approved to Michel Platini with both men set to discover their fates when the verdicts are delivered on Monday.

Aside from corruption, Blatter faces other charges, including accusations of mismanagement.

If found guilty, both men risk receiving lengthy bans.

Blatter was interviewed by Swiss daily Blick on Sunday about his eight-hour hearing in front of the chief FIFA judge Hans-Joachim Eckert last week.

He told the newspaper: "The judge told me at the start 'the corruption charges have been withdrawn'."

FIFA investigators have sought life bans against Blatter and Platini and both men have signalled that appeals will be made.

The suspect payment was for work that Platini carried out as a consultant from 1998 to 2002.
Source: AFP