Acting President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Issa Hayatou, said he would not vie for the presidency of the football governing body.
President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter and European Football Association President, Michel Platini, were on Wednesday suspended for 90 days by congress of the body over sharp deals which are currently under investigation.
Also suspended for the same period was FIFA Secretary-General, Jerome Valcke. In place of Blatter, the President of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Hayatou, was selected in acting capacity till elections would be conducted in February, 2016.
“I will serve only on an interim basis; a new president will be chosen by the extraordinary congress on Feb. 26, 2016.
“I will not be a candidate for that position,’’ Hayatou said.
“FIFA remains committed to the reform process and will also continue to cooperate fully with authorities.
“It will follow the internal investigation wherever it leads,’’ he added.
The suspension of the football administrators, according to FIFA’s Ethics Committee, may be extended for additional 45 days.
It explained that the extension would take the suspension to Feb. 26, 2016 when Blatter’s successor would be elected at FIFA extraordinary congress in Zurich.
The ethics committee said the bans were with immediate effect and covered “all football activities on a national and international level’’, including Euro 2016 draw billed on Dec. 12 in Paris. (dpa/NAN)
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