Platini surprised by Fifa action over watch gifts
Robin Bairner
Sep 19, 2014 14:25:11
The Frenchman received a timepiece worth €20,000 four months ago and is frustrated by the manner and timing of demands he return it
Uefa president Michel Platini has hit out at Fifa for their attitude towards watches that were handed out as gifts by the Brazilian FA (CBF) at the World Cup this summer.
In total, 65 Parmigiani timepieces, worth €20,000, were handed out to various delegates over the course of the summer, including Fifa Executive Committee members and representatives of national parties arriving at the competition. However, on Thursday Fifa announced that such gifts contravened their rules and demanded they be returned by October 25.
Platini, who announced in August that he would not run for the Fifa presidency, has responded by hitting out at both the timing and the manner of the announcement.
“In this case, I am surprised,” he said. “First, I am surprised at the value of the watch. And then I'm surprised by Fifa’s press release: if the Ethics Committee was not happy, they should have told us that four months ago when we received the watches. But it is only after an article in the British press that we are told via a press release: ‘You need to return these watches right now.’
“I do not like the tone of Fifa and I'm surprised it’s happening.
“I will find out the exact value of the watch and I’ll give that money to a charity, but I repeat, I’m surprised how Fifa have conducted this.”
Fifa has promised it will donate the gifts to groups that promoted corporate responsibility in Brazil.
