Amidst allegations of corruption and money laundering against FIFA, its president Sepp Blatter on Wednesday challenged those who claim he is corrupt to prove it.
The Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI) indicted over nine FIFA officials just before the elections in May, accusing them of serious financial crimes, including money laundering and racketeering, by the United States justice system.
He was re-elected for a fifth term but then unexpectedly announced retirement and the Swiss now insists he had nothing to do with the corruption and the allegations are baseless, reports goal.com.
"People don't understand the word they are using when they accuse me of being corrupt, someone who accuses me of being corrupt must first prove that to be the case," the Swiss said.
"But no one can prove I am corrupt, because I'm not. I don't mind constructive or legitimate criticism, there's benefits in seeing things differently. But if someone says 'Blatter is corrupt because FIFA is corrupt', I can only shake my head at them."
"I have a clear conscience, otherwise I could not look people in the eye when I talk about this topic. The accusations against me have nothing to do with football, they're an attack on my personal life," the 79-year-old concluded.