The suspended FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter has sent a letter to the Football Associations of each of the 209 member states – protesting his innocence ahead of his meeting with FIFA ethics committee tomorrow.

In the letter Blatter protested his innocence and refuted all claims of any wrongdoing. He went on to describe the ethics committee’s handling of the saga as something like an ‘inquisition’ –  a 12th century religious judicial system of the Roman Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy.

“The way in which the investigatory chamber of the ethics committee has communicated on the current proceedings, demanded the maximum penalty and reinforced public pre-judgement has reached a tendentious and dangerous dimension,” Blatter wrote.

“These proceedings remind me of the Inquisition.

“I will continue to fight for my rights – and at the end of this week, I will present my case before the adjudicatory chamber with great conviction and a strong belief in justice, ” he added.

The 79 year old former head is due to appear before FIFA’s ethics committee on Thursday and Friday over a £1.3m payment made by the organisation to UEFA president Michel Platini in 2011.

Blatter claims the payment to Platini honoured a verbal agreement made in 1998.

The pair, who have been suspended from football for 90 days, face charges of corruption, conflict of interest and non-cooperation.

They both deny any wrongdoing, however, if they are found guilty,  they could face lifetime bans from the sport. Which could be more damaging for Platini who still wants to run in the governing body’s election for Blatter’s successor.

For Blatter, a ban might do much damage to his future career as he’s reached the twilight anyway but it’s an opportunity clear his name and preserve his legacy.

The former Swiss head is also the subject of a criminal investigation in his native Switzerland.