FIFA President Sepp Blatter Tells Members That he Will Remain The Boss

Sepp Blatter has told FIFA's staff that he will stay on as president while he cooperates with Swiss prosecutors who have opened criminal proceedings against him, his lawyer said on Monday. (Sepp Blatter faces suspension from FIFA)

"President Blatter spoke to FIFA staff today and informed the staff that he was cooperating with the authorities, reiterated that he had done nothing illegal or improper and stated that he would remain as president of FIFA," Blatter's Virginia-based lawyer Richard Cullen said in a statement.

Blatter also told Swiss investigators that a two-million Swiss franc payment to UEFA boss Michel Platini was legitimate, despite a claim from prosecutors that the payment was "disloyal" to FIFA, Blatter's lawyer said Monday.

"On the Platini matter, President Blatter on Friday shared with the Swiss authorities the fact that Mr. Platini had a valuable employment relationship with FIFA serving as an advisor to the president beginning in 1998," Blatter's lawyer Richard Cullen said in a statement.

"He explained to the prosecutors that the payments were valid compensation and nothing more and were properly accounted for within FIFA."