Summary
So it all seems to be slowing down in Zurich after a hectic few hours. Plus the impending arrival of a certain German to become Liverpool’s new manager may have stolen the show - for now at least.
Here’s a quick summary of today’s historic events:
- Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and Jérôme Valcke suspended for 90 days
- Issa Hayatou to be acting Fifa president following suspension of Sepp Blatter
- FA not dropping support of Michel Platini for Fifa presidency
- IOC tells Fifa: enough is enough - you must accelerate and deepen reform
That’s all from me, until next time
With Platini’s candidacy looking extremely shaky after his provisional suspension, the race to be elected as the next Fifa president at February’s elections is now wide open. According to the bookies, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan is the new favourite, with Platini and Issa Hayatou second and third respectively. Alternatively, one firm is offering 500/1 on Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus - the same price as Kolo Touré and Raheem Sterling.
Here’s confirmation of what we told you earlier about the FA standing by their support for Michel Platini in February’s elections for the new Fifa president. Nothing official from Uefa as yet on the three-time Ballon d’Or winner’s future as president there, although that seems like a fait accompli given the rules...
FA not dropping support of Michel Platini for Fifa presidency
IOC president Thomas Bach has had his say on Fifa’s woes in the past and ventured in June that football’s governing body could learn a thing or two from its own scandal.
IOC members were expelled over the 1998 bribery scandal which related to the award of the 2002 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City and it was widely seen as the catalyst for the overhaul of the organisation with wholesale changes to its structure and bidding rules.
“We cannot give advice on what to do in detail, but we appreciate that there is the readiness for reforms now and for substantial reforms,” said Bach.
“We also know from our experience that the other part of the job, that means putting everything on the desk, can be a painful experience, but that it is absolutely necessary to do this, as we have seen from our own history.”
Here’s some more on the IOC’s shock intervention:
IOC president Bach says "enough is enough" and that Fifa needs a credible external candidate (via @martynziegler) pic.twitter.com/fKuYjHIkAF
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) October 8, 2015
Now this is interesting. The IOC have just entered the debate and they are clearly not happy...
#Breaking IOC president Thomas Bach has said "enough is enough" and FIFA should appoint "external presidential candidate of high integrity"
— PA Dugout (@PA_dugout) October 8, 2015
Not everyone is happy about the suspension of the men who, until this morning, were the most powerful in the football world. Noël Le Graët, who is president of the French Football Federation has just given an interview to RMC radio where he described today’s events as ‘a hasty suspension’.
Document RMC Sport - VIDEO / Noël Le Graët : «Une suspension hâtive» http://t.co/VjcWGOI548 #Platini #Fifa pic.twitter.com/mpXg5zjTHP
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) October 8, 2015
Finally some news on Michel Platini’s position as the president of Uefa. Not surprisingly, he’s been told he has to stand down as well:
UEFA confirms to CNN that Platini also has to leave his job as head of European football’s governing body for 90 days of FIFA suspension.
— James Masters (@Masters_JamesD) October 8, 2015
It had all gone quiet from the man they used to call ‘Mr Teflon’ in Zurich’s corridors of power but now Jérôme Valcke’s lawyer has also protested his client’s innocence:
Suspended @jeromevalcke lawyer says "unequivocally denied the false allegation" on ticket sales, "did absolutely nothing wrong or improper"
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) October 8, 2015
NewFifanow has been a leading campaigner for reform at football’s governing body over the last few years and they have also had their say on today’s events. However, they acknowledge that there is still a long way to go before everything is fixed:
The FIFA Senior Vice-President, Issa Hayatou of Cameroon, who will replace Blatter for the period of his suspension was sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee in 2011, and has been the subject of bribery allegations by a Qatar-bid whistleblower. He has denied the allegations related to Qatar.
The UEFA First Vice-President, Angel Maria Villar Llona of Spain, who is in line to replace Platini for the period of his suspension, did not cooperate with FIFA’s own 21-month Ethics Committee investigation into the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process, conducted by Michael Garcia.
Hayatou and Villar Llona would be disqualified from holding these positions - even temporarily - under governance arrangements to which most organisations are held accountable.
The only way that the international community can have any trust in FIFA in the future is to end the crisis of corruption and management, and for the organisation to be transformed.
Updated
Ok back from lunch and straight into the full statement from the new acting president of Fifa. Take it away Issa Hayatou, who confirms he will not stand for the permanent role in February:
Today, amid extraordinary circumstances, I have assumed the office of FIFA President pursuant to Article 32 (6) of the FIFA Statutes. I will serve only on an interim basis. A new President will be chosen by the Extraordinary Congress on 26 February 2016. I myself will not be a candidate for that position.
Until the Extraordinary Congress, I pledge that I will dedicate my best efforts to the organization, the member associations, our employees, our valued partners, and football fans everywhere. FIFA remains committed to the reform process, which is critical to reclaiming public trust. We will also continue to cooperate fully with authorities and follow the internal investigation wherever it leads.
Football has never enjoyed greater support throughout the world, and that is something everyone associated with FIFA should be proud of.
And more from the FA and David Gill. Looks like they’re standing by Michel Platini. Their statement, via the BBC’s Dan Roan:
This is an extremely disappointing day for football. We trust the FIFA Ethics Committee will conduct the investigations in an independent, robust and timely manner. As we said last week, there are key questions that have arisen in the past month that must be answered by those concerned.
“This important process – along with the investigation by the Swiss Attorney General - should not be allowed to affect the need for urgent change at FIFA. Our over-riding concern has always been for full and transparent reform as soon as possible and this remains The FA’s priority.
“David Gill, the British member of the FIFA Executive, along with Wolfgang Niersbach, the German representative, have today called for an emergency meeting of the FIFA Executive to discuss this morning’s events. They are conscious that both the President and General Secretary of FIFA are currently suspended.
“We also understand there will be a meeting of the 54 UEFA nations as soon as next week.
“The FA committed this summer to supporting Mr Platini in his bid to become the next President of FIFA. At The FA Board meeting last week, we decided that remained our position while inquiries into certain allegations were being investigated.
“We now await the results of both the Ethics Committee inquiry and the investigation of the Swiss Attorney General. We note that Mr Platini has issued a strong statement protesting his innocence.”
Total change is needed at Fifa, according to our own David Conn...
Like the drawn-out but still shocking topples of old, discredited rulers in loathed regimes around the world, Fifa’s president since 1998, Sepp Blatter, has finally felt the tidal wave of corruption scandals seep through his door and been suspended from the organisation he lorded for so long. His secretary-general, Jérôme Valcke, already put on leave following allegations of a ticketing scam, is also now formally suspended by Fifa’s “ethics committee”. So football’s world governing body has – for 90 days, pending further investigation of the serious charges against its two most senior figures – decapitated itself.
Updated
Statement by Issa Hayatou, new acting #Fifa president now Blatter suspended: "FIFA remains committed to the reform process."
— David Conn (@david_conn) October 8, 2015
Breaking news from David Gill...
Britain’s FIFA vice-president David Gill has called for an emergency meeting of the world governing body’s executive committee following the suspension of president Sepp Blatter.
A neat summary of today’s shenanigans, in video form. Have a bang on this.
Ed’s just off for a bit of lunch, but as a side note, Platini’s suspension means he won’t be able to attend the Euro 2016 draw in December, which as it’s all happening round his manor, will presumably be a blow for the big man.
FIFpro, the union which represents players from around the world, has also issued a statement that says they have “little or no confidence in the ability of Fifa to reform from within”. What’s more, they suggest that the decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar “lacks credibility”.
“Only a complete governance overhaul involving key stakeholders such as the players and clubs will be sufficient. The new reform Task Force announced by Fifa recently does not meet this criteria.
“FIFPro insists the players are crucial to add much-needed checks and balances, helping Fifa to rid itself of a culture of impropriety, while elevating football to unprecedented levels of transparency, accountability and ultimately maximising the game’s social role and development as both a sport and business.”
No response yet from the FA regarding their support for Michel Platini’s presidential candidacy in light of today’s events but anti-corruption group Transparency International UK has no doubt what their next move should be...
Following the announcement by FIfa to suspend Michel #Platini the FA should now drop their support for his Presidency, pending investigation
— Transparency Int'lUK (@TransparencyUK) October 8, 2015
Hayatou has been president of African football’s governing body CAF since March 1998, since when:
- Tottenham have had eight different managers, but Arsenal just the one
- Former England defender Sol Campbell has entered politics
- These 50 young players have grown from babies into the most promising on the planet
Strictly speaking, Hayatou should have gone the way of Jacques Santini, Martin Jol and the rest a long time ago but the wily old fox changed the rules over age restrictions in February, meaning he can now be elected for an eighth term in 2017
Some interesting insight here from a man who knows the new acting president well. Doesn’t sound like things are going to improve for Fifa’s media relations...
Fact: Issa Hayatou sees the media as an irritant. And much worse if you're an inquisitive reporter questioning his conduct.
— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) October 8, 2015
And here’s the official statement from Fifa confirming Blatter’s suspension and Hayatou’s (temporary) promotion:
“Today, in accordance with Fifa’s Code of Ethics, Joseph S. Blatter was relieved of all his duties as Fifa President following the decision of the Independent Chairman of the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee to provisionally ban him from all football activities on a national and international level.
Joseph S. Blatter, for the duration of the 90-day ban, is not allowed to represent Fifa in any capacity, act on the organisation’s behalf, or communicate to media or other stakeholders as a Fifa representative.
As mandated by article 32 (6) of the Fifa Statutes, Issa Hayatou, as the longest-serving vice-president on Fifa’s Executive Committee, will serve as Acting President of Fifa.
It was also announced that the Independent Chairman of the Adjudicatory Chamber of the Ethics Committee issued a provisional 90-day ban for Fifa’s Secretary General, Jérôme Valcke.
This decision follows Fifa’s announcement on 17 September 2015, that the organization had put Jérôme Valcke on leave and released him from his duties effective immediately. On that date, Fifa requested a formal investigation by the Ethics Committee.
All operational business matters will continue to be overseen by Markus Kattner, Acting Secretary General.”
Updated
OFFICIAL: Fifa confirms Issa Hayatou will take over as acting president
As suspected, the former Cameroonian 400m and 800m record holder will take over from Blatter with immediate effect.
Fifa confirms that Issa Hayatou will take over as acting president. He was censured by the IOC in 2011: http://t.co/9z3gIcax7i
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) October 8, 2015
Updated
A bit more on what actually went on inside Fifa’s HQ in Zurich this morning here. According to the excellent Inside the Games website:
“The chamber was chaired by Dr Cornel Borbély, with the investigation against Blatter to be carried out by Guam’s Robert Torres and the one against Platini by Vanessa Allard, it was revealed.”
They saw that lawyers know everything, right? But not according to the Press Association’s Martyn Ziegler, who suggests that Blatter may actually be up the Fifa creek without a paddle...
Blatter's lawyers say ethics committee should have allowed him personal hearing. Code states otherwise however: pic.twitter.com/BO4ZBFOD6r
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) October 8, 2015
But while the football world rejoices at Blatter’s decline, spare a thought for the South Norwood Tourist Board. They had hoped the outgoing Fifa president would be their guest of honour at Picklesfest16 next summer, although that would now seem to be on the back burner given today’s events.
The festival - which will commemorate 50 years since local hero Pickles the dog found the World Cup hidden in a bush - is due to take place on 27 March in the south London park a stone’s throw from Selhurst Park. “The Fifa chairman would have been a star speaker and a major catch for SNTB,” says a statement on their website. “We are gutted this has happened, but maybe it was the hand of god, so now we are chasing Diego Maradonna [sic].”
Here’s the full statement from Blatter’s lawyer:
“President Blatter was disappointed that the Ethics Committee did not follow the Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Code, both of which provide for an opportunity to be heard. Further, the Ethics Committee based its decision on a misunderstanding of the actions of the Attorney General in Switzerland, which has opened an investigation but brought no charge against the President. In fact, the prosecutors will be obliged by law to dismiss the case if their investigation, barely two weeks old, does not establish sufficient evidence. Pres Blatter looks forward to opportunity to present evidence that will demonstrate he did not engage in any misconduct.”
So, in short, this isn’t over for Sepp just yet. Judging from that statement, he intends to appeal today’s decision and if that fails, he could then go to the Court of Abitration for Sport.
Mr Blatter has issued his first response to being suspended. And, surprise surprise, he’s done nothing wrong, guv. Well at least according to his lawyer anyway
Blatter and his camp believe there is no direct evidence against him -- believes suspension is based only fact Swiss AG is investigating.
— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) October 8, 2015
And here’s some more on that story from Reuters:
Cameroon’s Issa Hayatou and Spain’s Angel Maria Villar are in line to take over as interim heads of football’s world and European governing bodies following the suspension on Thursday of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini.
Fifa’s statutes say that the most senior vice-president will stand-in for the president of the organisation. That position is currently held by Hayatou, president of Africa’s football confederation (CAF).
Spanish Football Federation president Villar is positioned to take over from Platini as he is the European governing body’s highest-ranking vice-president. Villar has been widely reported to be facing a Fifa ethics investigation himself related to Spain’s joint bid with Portugal for the 2018 World Cup. Fifa’s ethics committee is not allowed to confirm or deny the existence of any investigations.
In 2011, Hayatou was reprimanded by the International Olympics Committee’s ethics commission after he confirmed to them that he was paid by Fifa’s former marketing agency International Sport and Leisure in 1995. The IOC said such an action constituted a conflict of interest. Hayatou denied any personal gain or wrongdoing.
Updated
Some news here from our (occasionally sarcastic) correspondent Owen Gibson on who may be in line to step into the breach now that the Blatter era is over. It doesn’t make pretty reading...
Those brave reformers Issa Hayatou and Angel Maria Villar Llona are next in line to take charge. A new era awaits!
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) October 8, 2015
Blatter and Platini banned from all footballing activity for 90 days, a punishment already being served by Sunderland and Newcastle.
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) October 8, 2015
Bye Bye Sepp https://t.co/Xonvn8LZqa
— Jim Daly (@jimdalycomedy) October 8, 2015
Elsewhere, there’s been a widespread sense of relief that the man who began his professional career as Head of Public Relations of the Valaisan Tourist Board has finally got his comeuppance. Here’s some of the best so far...
Hi @FIFAcom Please find my attached CV Thanks #BrendanForFIFApresident pic.twitter.com/E8bZTfovUW
— Deluded Brendan (@DeludedBrendan) October 8, 2015
You can always rely on Gary Lineker to be topical. And what with it being National Poetry Day and all, the former England striker has come up with this ditty
Blatter and Platini banned from the game...FIFA, once more, holds its head in shame. #NationalPoetryDay
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 8, 2015
Platini’s suspension is bound to increase scrutiny on the FA’s decision to back the Frenchman as their preferred candidiate to succeed Blatter at Fifa...
Considering that Greg Dyke, the England FA chairman, is a keen supporter of a Platini FIFA presidency, I wonder what he's got to say now.
— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) October 8, 2015
That statement was released only a matter of minutes before Fifa went public with their decision, so Michel clearly knew something was up...
Updated
Quite a busy morning at Fifa HQ then? A reminder that Uefa president Michel Platini tried to get his retaliation in first by slamming reports he would be suspended as an ‘insidious leak’.
Updated
Summary
Hello and welcome to our rolling coverage with all the latest developments after the suspensions of Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and Jérôme Valcke.
- Investigatory arm of Fifa’s ethics committee confirmed decision
- Fifa president Blatter’s 17-year reign is all but over
- Uefa president Platini’s ambitions of succeeding Blatter now ended by these sanctions
- Fifa secretary general Valcke had already been placed on leave, but has now been banned
- Former Fifa vice-president Chung Mong-joon, who had threatened to sue Blatter while claiming that he was being targeted on spurious grounds by the ethics committee to force him out of the race to succeed the president, has been banned for six years and fined £67,000.
Updated
