FIFA hears Sepp Blatter's appeal against eight-year ban

Blatter`s adviser Thomas Renggli has said that he expected to get the verdict later this week.

Zurich: Banned FIFA president Sepp Blatter was at the headquarters of soccer`s governing body on Tuesday for a hearing to appeal against his eight-year suspension from the sport.

Blatter, 79, was banned in December along with European soccer boss Michel Platini over a payment of 2 million Swiss francs ($2 million) made to the Frenchman in 2011 by FIFA with Blatter`s approval for work done a decade earlier.

FIFA`s ethics committee, which imposed the bans on Blatter and Platini, said the payment, made at a time when the former was seeking re-election, lacked transparency and presented conflicts of interest. Both men denied wrongdoing.

The case is now being heard by FIFA`s Appeal Committee.

Sources close to FIFA said that Blatter had arrived 7.30 am local time, evading cameramen and photographers who had expected him to arrive later.

Blatter`s adviser Thomas Renggli told Reuters he expected to get the verdict later this week.

Soccer`s world ruling body is engulfed by a graft scandal that has led to the indictment of several dozen leading soccer officials in the United States. Platini`s appeal was heard on Monday.