Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter “nearly died” during recent health scare: “I was between the angels and devils”

Blatter, 79, was treated for stress in hospital for several days after a devastating six months which has seen FIFA crumble amid corruption allegations

The suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed he nearly died during his recent stay in hospital.

Blatter, 79, was admitted to hospital with stress and spent several days there before his release.

He told RTS: “I was close to dying. I was between the angels who were singing and the devil who was lighting the fire, but it was the angels who sang.

“The pressure was enormous. At some stage the body just says, ‘No, enough is enough’. But if you are strong psychologically, you can resist.”

Blatter was suspended from FIFA in October alongside UEFA chief Michel Platini after Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against the pair over an alleged “disloyal” £1.3m payment received by Platini from Blatter in 2011.

Suspended: Blatter and Platini are both serving 90-day bans

The pair maintain their innocence and say the payment was for work Platini did a decade prior to the payment being made.

Blatter added: “There is an agreement… even in the FIFA regulations that a contract can be made either in writing or orally. It is an oral contract, a contract of work.”

Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter “nearly died” during recent health scare: “I was between the angels and devils”

Blatter, 79, was treated for stress in hospital for several days after a devastating six months which has seen FIFA crumble amid corruption allegations

The suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed he nearly died during his recent stay in hospital.

Blatter, 79, was admitted to hospital with stress and spent several days there before his release.

He told RTS: “I was close to dying. I was between the angels who were singing and the devil who was lighting the fire, but it was the angels who sang.

“The pressure was enormous. At some stage the body just says, ‘No, enough is enough’. But if you are strong psychologically, you can resist.”

Blatter was suspended from FIFA in October alongside UEFA chief Michel Platini after Swiss prosecutors opened criminal proceedings against the pair over an alleged “disloyal” £1.3m payment received by Platini from Blatter in 2011.

The pair maintain their innocence and say the payment was for work Platini did a decade prior to the payment being made.

Blatter added: “There is an agreement… even in the FIFA regulations that a contract can be made either in writing or orally. It is an oral contract, a contract of work.”

Platini and Blatter both had appeals against their 90-day suspensions rejected by FIFA last week.

The pair are facing six-year bans from football and could know their fate by Christmas.