Sepp Blatter optimistic over FIFA Ethics Committee hearing

Sepp Blatter is “very happy” with the way his Ethics

Committee hearing went on Thursday, and is confident he will be back at his desk at FIFA headquarters in Zurich next week.

The FIFA president was suspended in October for signing off a £1.53m payment to Michel Platini in 2011 and could be banned for life if the Ethics Committee decide against him.

Blatter’s adviser Klaus Stohkler said: “The president is back in a fighting position. He is very optimistic that he will be cleared. The verdict will be announced on Monday and he is confident he will be back at his desk within 24 hours.”

Blatter, who was represented by Swiss lawyer Lorenz Erni, spent eight hours in the hearing chaired by German judge Hans Joachim Eckert – five hours longer than expected.

Stohkler added: “The president was very happy with the way Erni made his case. He is one of the best lawyers in Switzerland and he has won some very important and difficult cases in the past 15 years.”

Platini was due before the ethics committee on Friday but the suspended UEFA president decided not to appear in person.

Meanwhile, FIFA’s acting president has warned the controversy surrounding the organisation may not be over.

Issa Hayatou and acting secretary general Markus Kattner issued an open letter which noted that “there may be further challenges ahead.”