Blatter lawyers say FIFA rules not followed

Lawyers for FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday that the watchdog that suspended Blatter for 90 days had failed to follow its own rules by not letting him give evidence.

The Swiss and American lawyers predicted that a criminal investigation against the 79-year-old Swiss official would be dropped.

“President Blatter was disappointed that the Ethics Committee did not follow the code of ethics and disciplinary code, both of which provide for an opportunity to be heard,” said a statement released after FIFA announced the suspension of Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini.

FIFA suspends Sepp Blatter for 90 days

FIFA ethics committee has suspended its president Sepp Blatter for 90 days. Head of the committee,  Klaus Stoehlker, who has advised Blatter in the past, says the committee made the ruling pending further investigations by the Swiss attorney general following accusations of corruption.

He described it as a "pending" verdict, and said no negative finding had been made against the head of world football's governing body.