Davids Demands Public Apology From Blatter
Sunday 12th August 2001
Holland midfielder Edgar Davids will take Fifa president Sepp Blatter to court to force an apology for comments he made on August 1 that suggested that Davids had tested positive for more than just the banned steroid nandrolone.
Davids was infuriated by an interview Blatter gave to Dutch television program NOS Sportjournaal when he suggested that more than just traces of nandrolone were detected when Davids failed a routine drugs test after Juventus' match against Udinese on March 4.
"I think it isn't only the question of nandrolone," Blatter said. "There was something else as well, but I can't say any more than that at the moment."
Davids has received a letter from a representative of Blatter stating that the Fifa president "regrets" having made the claims, but Davids lawyer Robert Geerlings insists that nothing less than a public apology will suffice.
"People are inclined to believe that there is more to this affair after what the president of Fifa claims," he said. "Blatter made these accusations on television so it would be good if he made the apology on television as well."
Davids continues to claim his innocence dispite being suspended in May by Fifa from playing in competitive matches.
A judge in Amsterdam will arrange a date for the hearing next week and Blatter will be expected to attend.
