September 30 – Sepp Blatter is remaining calm and relaxed and has not been fazed by the furore over criminal proceedings being opened against him, according to his former public relations adviser Klaus Stoehlker.
Stoehlker told Reuters he has spoken to Blatter several times in recent days and that the under-fire FIFA president “is not nervous” and is “fully relaxed”.
“He is leading FIFA until this moment, then he will see if there is a candidate who is able to step into his shoes,” Stoehlker said.
He added Blatter had given him authorisation to speak about his current mood which, Stoehlker said, was “perfect”.
“He was hunted for the last six months and somehow he has to balance it,” Stoehlker was quoted as saying. “The whole Exco, the government of FIFA is behind their president.”
Reuters also reports that Blatter will no longer be using official FIFA channels, notably FIFA’s press office, to issue statements on his behalf in response to the investigation by Swiss prosecutors. It has apparently been agreed that any comment should come from Blatter’s lawyers to avoid conflict of interest.
Addressing his entire staff at a meeting on Monday, Blatter apparently read out a statement by his legal team declaring his innocence of any wrongdoing and reiterating his plans to remain in his job until February.
Whilst FIFA’s own legal chief, Marco Villiger, is running the show as far as the institution of FIFA is concerned, Blatter has two high-powered legal teams, one Swiss and one American, to advise him personally.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734911591labto1734911591ofdlr1734911591owedi1734911591sni@w1734911591ahsra1734911591w.wer1734911591dna1734911591