Blatter might face suspension

On Thursday, FIFA, the organization he once ruled with an iron fist, formally suspended Blatter, along with FIFA vice president Michel Platini and secretary general Jérôme Valcke (who was already on disciplinary leave) for 90 days.

In a move that could open conflict between the European confederation and the world body, UEFA’s executive said it “saw no need” to name a temporary president.

But he has come under intense pressure since being named in a Swiss criminal investigation into Blatter, who is accused of making the contested payment to Platini.

Lawyers for Blatter said he was “disappointed” the ethics watchdog had failed to follow its own rules by not letting him give evidence.

All those banned yesterday can turn to Fifa’s appeals committee to try to overturn the rulings but would remain suspended throughout any appeals process.

The Ethics Committee did not detail specific allegations against either man. But Swiss authorities said last month they had launched a criminal investigation into Blatter, partly involving a “disloyal payment” of two million Swiss francs ($2.07 million) to Platini, at FIFA’s expense, in 2011.

Reacting to the latest development that has thrown FIFA into deeper crisis, former vice chairman of the Nigeria Football As- sociation, NFA, Barrister Richard Obienu stated that Hayatou’s ascendancy to the position of Fifa President does not make any difference.

Issa Hayatou now has assumed Blatter’s presidential duties.

“During this time, the above individuals are banned from all football activities on a national and global level”, the committee said in a statement.

Blatter’s 16-year term as an International Olympic Committee member ended in August.

“I have always acted and expressed myself with honesty, courage and candour, as I feel that this is my moral duty”, he added.

The man who would be acting president of UEFA, Spain’s Angel Villar Llona, also has an ethics committee investigation hanging over him for refusing to co-operate properly with the inquiry into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.

Federation Internationale de Football Association sponsors, the Serious Fraud Office and Domenico Scala, the head of FIFA’s independent audit and compliance committee are also due to appear at a two-day meeting of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee.

They said they have no plans to replace Platini with the vice-president in his absence and while investigations are on-going.

He threatened legal action against Blatter for “embezzlement” by not declaring his salary and also in case he was stopped from running in the election.

Platini also pledged to fight the decision, calling the allegations against him “astonishingly vague” in a statement sent from UEFA hours after the Frenchman was banned from working as the body’s president.