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Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he is ready to take “all legal steps” to clear his name.

Lawyers for the 79 year old Swiss says they will contest the eight year ban handed to Blatter by FIFA’s ethics committee.

Blatter’s lawyers Lorenz Erni and Richard Cullen said in a joint statement that Blatter is eager to present his arguments to the appeal committee.

The outgoing FIFA president was provisionally suspended in October after he became the target of a criminal investigation by Swiss prosecutors over a two-million-US dollar payment he authorised to UEFA president Michel Platini in 20-11.