Sepp Blatter sues FIFA over missing personal belongings

Former president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter is suing the world football governing body over 60 missing watches belonging to him and for ‘moral damage.’

The 83-year old, who managed the affairs of the football body for 17 years, was handed a six-year ban from football amid a corruption scandal in 2015.

He was found to have made a 2m Swiss francs “disloyal payment” to former Uefa boss Michel Platini, although both football chiefs have denied any wrongdoing.

Blatter in a wide-ranging interview told BBC Sport a four-year long Swiss criminal investigation into him should be closed, and added that “proceedings have begun” in his legal action against Fifa.

“It’s four years, and nothing has happened, this case should be settled, because it’s a non-case,” he said.

“There cannot be a charge, otherwise they would have done it a long time (ago), but I’m not so sure that this will come out now. I want to defend my rights, while I’m alive,” Blatter said.

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On suing Fifa, his claim contains the allegation that the football body are still in possession of a number of his personal belongings, including around 60 of his watches.

“These are my watches, give me my watches” he said.

“It’s important for me. I worked in the watch industry and I made my collection. Forty-one years they were [at Fifa], I could have taken them home, a long time ago.

“Why are they fighting for these watches?

“There is no respect, there is no respect by the president [Gianni Infantino].”

In the interview, Blatter also revealed how his family has suffered following the corruption scandal.

“I’m living in peace now with myself (but) my family has suffered. They have suffered more than I have suffered,” he said.

“My grandaughter was mobbed in college when she was just 14 and she had to leave the college. She’s now 18.

“It’s terrible. She just got her diploma, at the university ceremony, but she is still suffering about it. This is life today. This is the world we live in.”

In response, Fifa said it hopes these investigations come to a conclusion soon.

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