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Blatter protests innocence after FIFA appeal hearing

Following his appeal hearing in Zurich this week, Sepp Blatter has reiterated his innocence in a French radio interview.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter maintains he is innocent of charges relating to a "disloyal payment" to Michel Platini following an appeal hearing into his eight-year ban from football-related activity this week.

Blatter's appeal took place in Zurich on Tuesday, a day after suspended UEFA president Platini's, with the pair subject to eight-year bans for several breaches of FIFA Code of Ethics violations.

A payment of two million Swiss francs ($2.01 million) from FIFA - authorized by Blatter - to the Frenchman in February 2011 is at the center of the issue, although both men deny wrongdoing.