Fifa president, Sepp Blatter. PHOTO/File
SWITZERLAND, October 7 – An associate of Sepp Blatter insisted on Wednesday that the besieged FIFA chief had not been threatened with a 90-day suspension, despite British media reports to the contrary.
“I was with president Blatter 30 minutes ago and no information of this kind was communicated to us,” the associate told AFP after claims that FIFA’s ethics committee had recommended a suspension of 90 days.
Contacted by AFP, a spokesman for the ethics committee tribunal refused to comment.
Several British media outlets, including Sky News and The Guardian, reported that the ethics watchdog had recommended a provisional suspension of 90 days.
These reports were based on statements by Klaus Stoehlker, described as a close adviser to Blatter.
However, in June, FIFA denied any legitimacy to the former adviser, insisting that his duties with Blatter had ended on May 31.
Last month, Swiss authorities opened an investigation for “criminal mismanagement” against 79-year-old Blatter.
UEFA president Michel Platini has also been implicated in the investigation because of a two million dollar (1.78 million euros) payment made to him in 2011.
Blatter, who has ruled FIFA for 17 years, insisted in a German magazine interview on Wednesday that he would not be forced out of office before an election to be held in February.
