Suspended Fifa president Sepp Blatter has said he feared he was dying during a recent health scare.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter Photo: Photosport
The 79 year old, who is serving a 90-day suspension from football, spent six days in hospital earlier this month with a stress-related illness.
"I was between the angels who were singing and the devil who was lighting the fire, but it was the angels who sang," said Blatter.
"I was close to dying. At some stage the body says 'no, enough is enough'."
Blatter, who has been in charge of football's world governing body for nearly 18 years, was provisionally suspended after being accused of signing a contract "unfavourable" to Fifa and making a "disloyal payment" to Uefa president Michel Platini.
Both Blatter and Platini have denied any wrongdoing and in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS, which will be broadcast on Wednesday, Blatter called Platini "an honest man".
"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," added the Swiss.
Despite also serving a 90-day Fifa suspension, Platini is still in the running to succeed Blatter as Fifa president when the election is held in February.
-BBC
