Blatter lawyers say FIFA rules not followed

Lawyers for FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday that the watchdog that suspended Blatter for 90 days had failed to follow its own rules by not letting him give evidence.

The Swiss and American lawyers predicted that a criminal investigation against the 79-year-old Swiss official would be dropped.

"President Blatter was disappointed that the Ethics Committee did not follow the code of ethics and disciplinary code, both of which provide for an opportunity to be heard," said a statement released after FIFA announced the suspension of Blatter and UEFA president Michel Platini.

The laywers said the suspension was based on a "misunderstanding" of the case launched by the Swiss attorney general.

Swiss prosecutors had "opened an investigation but brought no charge against the president," said the statement released by Zurich lawyers Lorenz Erni, Erni Brun Forrer and US-based Richard Cullen.

"The prosecutors will be obliged by law to dismiss the case if their investigation, barely two weeks old, does not establish sufficient evidence.

"President Blatter looks forward to the opportunity to present evidence that will demonstrate that he did not engage in any misconduct, criminal or otherwise," the statement said.