Blatter promised to call for fresh elections to choose a successor.
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Secret internal FIFA documents obtained by the MoS show Blatter knew of alleged corruption involving Warner and kept it to himself. Michel Platini might never even get there. In a statement this month, Platini said “the remuneration was agreed at the time”.
Both men deny any wrongdoing, with CONMEBOL stating Platini needs to be treated as innocent until proven guilty, adding that the sanction is “untimely and disproportionate”.
It is likely that Villar will chair Thursday’s hastily-organized meeting of both UEFA’s 54 members and the executive committee – despite not being appointed acting president as statutes dictate.
As honorary president of UEFA, also Johansson attends executive meetings of the European body and said regarding the 2011 payment: “I would have expected this payment to be reported to UEFA”.
FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio says it’s “not easy” to decide whether or not to support Michel Platini.
UEFA does clearly state that Platini will not carry out any official duties during the suspension, but keeping the former France captain as the visible leader in name could end up earning a rebuke, or worse, from Federation Internationale de Football Association for failing to adhere to the ethics committee’s decision. “Only together will we overcome these hard times”, said Sheikh Salman, who also heads the Asian Football Confederation.”Fifa is like the sinking Titanic”, Chung said, accusing Blatter of having “morally bankrupted” the organization. All of the suspensions were for 90 days.
He had also blamed Blatter for mismanaging FIFA’s finances before the presidential election in May 2002.
“Enough is enough”, IOC President Thomas Bach said. I hope we will have one on Thursday.
Sepp Blatter was finally forced out of office last week after more than 17 years as president.
Neither Blatter nor Platini are implicated in the wider scandal however.
In September, criminal proceedings against Blatter began in Switzerland. “In fact, the prosecutors will be obliged by law to dismiss the case if their investigation, barely two weeks old, does not establish sufficient evidence”.
“I’m a fighter”, Blatter told Schweizer am Sonntag. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the case.
The suspension of Platini could have the most far-reaching implications.
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Until recently, Platini had been the favourite to replace Blatter. The election committee will decide on who will be accepted as full candidates shortly after the deadline for nominations on October 26.
