Blatter files appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has taken a further step in trying to get his six-year ban revoked by taking his appeal to the CAS.

Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini last month had appeal hearings after being punished in December over a £1.3million “disloyal payment” made to the Frenchman.

The pair’s suspensions were reduced from eight to six years, with their services to football a mitigating factor, but Platini took his case to CAS and Blatter has, as promised, followed suit.

“Joseph S Blatter has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision issued by the FIFA Appeal Committee on February 16, 2016,” a CAS statement read.

“In his appeal to the CAS, Mr Blatter seeks the annulment of the decision taken by the FIFA appeal committee in which he was suspended from all football-related activities at national and international level for six years.

“A CAS arbitration procedure is in progress. First, the parties will exchange written submissions and a panel of three arbitrators will be constituted.

“The panel will then issue directions with respect to the holding of a hearing. Following the hearing, the panel will deliberate and at a later date, it will issue a decision in the form of an arbitral award.”

The six-year bans began on October 8, 2015 and expire in October 2021.

Blatter is aged 79 and the suspension effectively ends his hopes of returning to football, unless CAS rules in his favour.

Platini would be eligible to return in time for the Qatar 2022 World Cup he championed.