FIFA crisis deepens

ZURICH (AP):

Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini, the former France great who had been favoured to take over as FIFA leader, were both suspended for 90 days yesterday, plunging football's governing body deeper into crisis.

Blatter and Platini were suspended by the FIFA ethics committee in the wake of a Swiss criminal investigation. The decision seemingly ends Platini's bid to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in the emergency election in February.

Another presidential hopeful, Chung Mong-joon, was suspended for six years in a separate case, and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke was banned for 90 days.

The suspensions can be extended by up to 45 days.

The International Olympic Committee called on FIFA to consider a "credible external presidential candidate of high integrity" as Blatter's replacement.

"Enough is enough," IOC president Thomas Bach said. "We hope that now, finally, everyone at FIFA has at last understood that they cannot continue to remain passive.

Repairing image

Bach added, "They must act swiftly to regain credibility because you cannot forever dissociate the credibility of FIFA from the credibility of football."

Issa Hayatou, the longtime head of the African Football Confederation who was reprimanded in 2011 by the IOC in a FIFA kickbacks scandal, will take over as acting president.

The 69-year-old Cameroonian, who has a serious kidney illness that requires regular dialysis sessions, is currently in Yaounde and is expected to travel to Zurich immediately.

Hayatou said he would not stand for president in February but remained committed to the reform process.

"We will also continue to cooperate fully with authorities and follow the internal investigation wherever it leads," Hayatou said in a statement.

The interim leader of UEFA will be Spanish federation head Angel Maria Villar, who remains at risk of being sanctioned from the FIFA ethics committee in its investigation of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contests.

UEFA's 54-member nations are due to meet in Nyon, Switzerland, next Thursday, while FIFA vice-president David Gill and fellow executive committee member Wolfgang Niersbach have called for an emergency meeting of FIFA's ruling body.

Blatter's suspension brings a sudden halt to a 40-year career that had survived waves of scandals until he was placed under criminal investigation.

Last month, Swiss authorities turned up at Blatter's office at FIFA headquarters and interrogated him. The criminal case centres on Blatter allegedly misusing FIFA money by making a $2 million payment to Platini, who was questioned as a witness.

Blatter was also questioned by Swiss investigators about broadcasting contracts sold to former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner in 2005 that were supposedly undervalued.

'Misunderstanding'

Blatter's lawyer, Richard Cullen, said the ethics committee failed to follow procedure and based its decision on a "misunderstanding".

The suspension of Platini could have the most far-reaching implications. Platini submitted his formal candidacy to stand in the February 26 election to replace Blatter yesterday. That means it will have to be considered by the election committee after the October 26 deadline for candidacies. Chung, a former FIFA vice-president, was found guilty of breaches relating to the investigation into bidding for the 2022 World Cup, of which South Korea was a contender.

Chung said his ban has "completely undermined the legitimacy and fairness of the next FIFA presidential election".

Valcke had already been put on leave last month after being the subject of allegations over a deal for black market sales of tickets to 2014 World Cup matches.

Valcke's lawyer, Barry Berke, said the Frenchman was the subject of "false allegations".