UEFA chief, Michel Platini, has failed so far to give a “credible explanation” for a $2 million payment from FIFA, the head of Germany’s football league says.
“Michel Platini needs to give an open and credible explanation to football fans on what it was about – and I stress: credible,” Reinhard Rauball said.
Platini was dragged into a widening scandal at FIFA when Swiss prosecutors opened a probe last week against FIFA chief Sepp Blatter.
Part of the investigation was focused on the two million Swiss francs Blatter paid to the French legend in 2011, apparently for consulting work done between 1998 and 2002.
Switzerland’s Attorney General Michael Lauber has said there is evidence that the payment was “disloyal” to FIFA’s interests.
Platini, 60, has said that he was paid the sum only a decade after the consulting work was done because of financial constraints at FIFA in 1998-2002.
The state of the world body’s finances for the period are unclear however.
Rauball said Platini had told UEFA members in a letter that he could not comment on the investigation – a point that the German football chief said he did not appreciate.
“As a private individual in his private, civilian sphere, he can of course do so if he feels that he needs to protect himself,” said Rauball.
But given that Platini is putting himself forward as a candidate for the FIFA chief job, he needs to adhere to “higher standards”.
“What Platini has revealed to us so far is simply not enough,” said Rauball, himself a lawyer by training.
FIFA’s crisis began in May when US prosecutors charged 14 football officials and sports business executives over alleged bribes.
Amid the corruption storm, Blatter announced he would stand down, with a special election to be held in February.
Platini had been the favourite to win that vote, but some believe his implication in the Swiss probe could harm his candidacy.
Platini will be without his closest adviser at UEFA as he seeks the FIFA presidency while embroiled in the Swiss investigation into corruption in the global governing body.
UEFA says Kevin Lamour, who heads Platini’s office, has started a leave of absence with no date set for his return.
UEFA said in a statement to The Associated Press: “It had been agreed several months ago that Kevin would take a leave of absence at the end of September … the duration of the leave has not yet been confirmed.”
Platini was questioned last week by Swiss investigators about a payment of 2 million Swiss francs (about $2 million) he received from FIFA in 2011 for work carried out up to 2002. Platini denies wrongdoing.
