FIFA Ethics Committee to try Blatter and Platini

(AGI) Rome, Nov 23 - The arbitration board of FIFA'sindependent Ethics Committee, chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert,opened a formal judicial proceeding against Joseph Blatter andMichel Platini on Monday. The proceeding was initiated on thebasis of the final reports presented by FIFA's investigatorychamber. After carefully analysing the reports, the arbitrationboard decided to initiate a formal proceeding against the twoFIFA executives. In compliance with privacy regulations and thepresumption of innocence, the arbitration board will notpublish the details of the sanctions requested by theinvestigatory chamber in its final reports. During theproceeding, both defendants will be invited to explain theirposition, produce any evidence relative to the investigatorychamber's final reports (Art. 70 par. 2 of FIFA's Code ofEthics), and ask to be heard (Art . 74 par. 2 of FIFA's Code ofEthics). The board of arbitration intends to decide both casesduring the month of December. . .