Hayatou undergoes kidney transplant

UEFA president Michel Platini has criticised FIFA’s sluggishness in responding to his appeal against the ethics committee’s decision to suspend him for 90 days that prevented him from being named candidate for its presidential elections.

FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) issued a joint statement that the Cameroonian underwent surgery on Thursday.

“On behalf of Federation Internationale de Football Association and myself, I wish our acting Federation Internationale de Football Association president Issa Hayatou a swift recovery”.

Hayatou, 69, was appointed as FIFA’s acting president last month following the provisional 90-day suspension of Sepp Blatter. “In the coming days, I will be in regular contact with him and I am glad to know that in future, he will be back on our side”, said Caf Secretary General, Hicham El Amrani. Sources close to Blatter said he was admitted after “a small emotional breakdown”. They have denied any wrongdoing.

He was expected to remain there until the beginning of next week but has now been released, his advisor Klaus Stoehlker confirmed.

Blatter, 79, visited the hospital five days ago and underwent stress-related health checks, attorney Richard Cullen said, adding, “He is fine and expects to be home shortly”.

Buffeted by a series of scandals over the last few years, FIFA was thrown into turmoil in May by the United States indictments of 14 football officials, including two FIFA vice-presidents, and sports marketing executives for alleged corruption.