FIFA President Sepp Blatter has been suspended alongside Michel
Platini, the UEFA boss.
Both men, who were suspended for 90 days, are facing investigation by
FIFA’s independent ethics committee over the payment made to Platini
reportedly for work as Blatter’s technical advisor between 1999 and
2002.
The former FIFA boss, who is also suspected of signing a contract that
was ‘unfavourable to Fifa’ and making a ‘disloyal payment’ of US 1.5
million Platini, has temporarily been replaced by Issa Hayatou, the
Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) boss.
FIFA has come under severe criticism following reports of bribery,
with 14 of its officials being investigated by the Federal Bureau of
Investigations (FBI) and the Swiss authorities.
Recently, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke was suspended, while
Austin ‘Jack’ Warner, a former FIFA Vice President and President of
CONCACAF was banned from participating in football affairs for life.
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee boss Thomas Bach has
also weighed in on the scandal, and asked football’s governing body to
enhance the processes of accountability and good governance.
“They must do two things immediately: they must accelerate and deepen
the reform process in order to comply with accountability,
transparency and all the principles of good governance, as expressed
in our reform programme, Olympic Agenda 2020.
They should also be open for a credible external presidential
candidate of high integrity, to accomplish the necessary reforms and
bring back stability and credibility to FIFA,” Bach’s statement reads
in part.
Blatter, Platini suspended
