Blatter Appeals Against 90 Days Suspension

Embattled FIFA president, Joseph Blatter, who was suspended for 90 days by the Ethics Committee of world football body, FIFA, on Friday appealed against his suspension, Richard Cullen, his American lawyer has said.
Blatter’s appeal, according to Cullen, was filed Thursday to the FIFA appeal committee, after Blatter’s adviser, Klaus Stoehlker had said an appeal against the provisional suspension would make no sense.

Blatter was on Thursday banned by the ethics committee, alongside Michel Platini, the UEFA president and FIFA vice-president, for 90 days in connection with a criminal investigation by Swiss authorities.

He is suspected of mismanagement and Platini is named as the recipient of a “disloyal payment” from FIFA.
Platini said on Thursday that he would appeal the ruling and, like Blatter, he has protested his innocence.

Blatter and Platini are banned from all football activities for 90 days or until the appeal committee nullifies the ban.
Findings have revealed, however, that there is still the possibility of the ethics committee extending the ban for another 45 days.

According to reports, Platini, who is a candidate for the FIFA presidency at an extraordinary congress billed for Feb. 26, would be compelled however, to first go through an integrity check.

Another potential candidate, Chung Mong-joon of South Korea, was banned for six years Thursday over other issues.
As a result of the ongoing crisis, senior vice-president Issa Hayatou of Cameroon is now the acting FIFA president, according to FIFA statutes.

By Patrick Aigbokhan

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