Wednesday 7 October 2015 11:49, UK
Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter has slammed the criminal investigation into his conduct , according to reports in Switzerland.
The 79-year-old, who has been quoted speaking to German magazine Bunte, has come under fire for remaining in power with FIFA's main sponsors demanding last week he should resign after Swiss authorities said they had opened criminal proceedings against him.
Blatter, who has denied any wrongdoing, stated the investigation against him was "not correct" and defended his decision not to step down sooner as head of the world football body.
"The situation is not pleasant," Blatter told Bunte. "I am being condemned without there being any evidence for wrongdoing on my part. That is really outrageous."
Four days after winning a fifth term, Blatter rocked the footballing world in June by declaring he would step down in the wake of corruption investigations by US and Swiss authorities.
He remains in office ahead of a scheduled February election.
He reiterated in the Bunte interview that he had no plans for an immediate resignation, despite coordinated calls by major sponsors last week for such a move.
"This is just an investigation, not an indictment," Blatter added. "I will fight until February 26. For myself. For FIFA. I am convinced that evil will come to light and good will prevail."
American drinks company Coca-Cola, one of five top-tier FIFA global partners,along with Anheuser-Busch InBev, McDonald's and Visa issued statements last Friday urging Blatter to relinquish his post.
A Coca-Cola statement read: "Every day that passes, the image and reputation of FIFA continues to tarnish. FIFA needs comprehensive and urgent reform, and that can only be accomplished through a truly independent approach."
Blatter is suspected of criminal mismanagement or misappropriation over a TV rights deal he signed with former Caribbean football chief Jack Warner in 2005 and of "a disloyal payment" in 2011 of 2 million Swiss francs (£1.35m) to current UEFA president and FIFA presidential candidate Michel Platini for work allegedly carried out by the Frenchman between 1999 and 2002.
The pair are also understood to be under investigation by FIFA's ethics committee.
In a statement from Blatter's United States-based lawyer, Richard Cullen said last week that "Blatter respectfully disagrees with its position and believes firmly that his leaving office now would not be in the best interest of FIFA nor would it advance the process of reform and therefore, he will not resign".
