Platini hits back over FIFA payment row

UEFA chief Michel Platini on Monday admitted he had no written contract for a $2.0 million payment from FIFA president Sepp Blatter as his chances of replacing the Swiss veteran as head of the world body nosedived ahead of a key FIFA council meeting in Zurich on Tuesday.

 In his first interview since being handed a 90-day suspension from all football-related activities by FIFA, the former star player for France and Juventus told Le Monde that, although he had nothing in writing, he had made a "man to man" agreement with Blatter over the contested remuneration.

 Platini added that, as he understood it, under Swiss law "an oral contract is worth a written contract". FIFA is based in Zurich and is subject to Swiss law.

 FIFA chief Blatter, who is also serving a 90-day suspension amid a huge corruption scandal engulfing the game, said last week that the payment made to Platini in 2011 for consultancy work carried out years previously, was "a gentleman's agreement".

 Platini, who also had a spell as France coach, told Le Monde he felt Blatter was seeking to "kill me politically" over the payment which looks to have doomed any chance of his succeeding him.

 He had been seen as favourite to take over in February until he was named in a Swiss criminal investigation into Blatter's management of FIFA.

 "It was a contract I had with Platini, a gentleman's agreement," said the 79-year-old Blatter in an interview with Swiss media RROTV.

 "It was implemented. I can't give any more details, the issue is being discussed in two investigations."