CAF president, Issa Hayatou (Left) with embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter. PHOTO /FILE
YAOUNDE, October 10 – Issa Hayatou says he is “delighted” to step up to become acting FIFA president following Sepp Blatter’s suspension.
The 69-year-old Cameroonian head of the Confederation of African Football has taken temporary charge of the sport’s world governing body as it wrestles with mounting sleaze allegations after Blatter’s 90-day ban from FIFA’s ethics committee.
“I’m really very delighted to have this responsibility,” Hayatou told Cameroon television during a visit to Yaounde on Friday.
“I know what’s expected of me because I know FIFA. I will do everything to be able to live up to the confidence that the (FIFA) regulations have given me.”
“It’s up to the president to ensure everything runs correctly, but one person isn’t able to do this enormous task, we are 209 associations around the world, so I can’t say I’m going to do everything, one has to be modest, and rely on the existing structures.”
Hayatou took command of FIFA on Thursday after Blatter was suspended for 90 days as Swiss prosecutors investigate him for criminal mismanagement.
He insisted he had nothing to worry about in terms of the corruption scandal engulfing FIFA.
“I’m at ease, do you think with all that’s happened the investigators would let me take up this post if they had the slightest suspicion about me?”
Hayatou is expected at FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Tuesday.
