Sepp Blatter Calls for Crisis Meeting as FIFA Scandal Grows: Reports
Sepp Blatter is under severe pressure as a massive corruption scandal continues to engulf world football's governing body
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: May 28, 2015 05:59 PM IST
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has met with the heads of FIFA's six confederations in Zurich on Thursday morning as a vast corruption scandal continues to engulf world football's governing body, sources confirmed. (Blatter Not Involved in Corruption Probe: FIFA)
The president of European governing body UEFA Michel Platini attended along with the heads and representatives of the Asia Football Conderation (AFC), CONMEBOL (South America), CAF (Africa), OFC (Oceania) and CONCACAF (North, Central American and Caribbean).
The subject of the meeting, which comes on the eve of Blatter's election bid for a fifth term in office, was not revealed. (Swiss authorities arrest seven officials in FIFA scandal)
CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb was not present after the FIFA vice-president was among those arrested on Wednesday morning by Swiss authorities on suspicion of alleged corruption going back 25 years. (FIFA Presidential Election Should be Postponed: UEFA)
Seven FIFA officials were detained by Swiss police at the request of United States authorities accused of taking more than $150 million in bribes. The United States wants the seven extradited to face trial there. (US Vows to Rid Global Soccer of Corruption)
Separately, Swiss investigators raided FIFA's headquarters as part of an investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. (US Indicts nine officials, five businessmen)
UEFA have demanded that the FIFA election be postponed, while CAF are opposed to a postponement of the presidential election in which 79-year-old Blatter's only challenger will be Jordan's Prince Ali Bin Hussein, 39.