Sports FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2015 FIFA suspends Blatter, Platini World soccer rocked by suspension; Hayatou takes charge

ZURICH: World soccer chief Sepp Blatter Blatter to resign and called for an emer- from the game for six years, a decision and European boss were gency meeting of FIFA’s executive com- which will almost certainly end his suspended yesterday, engulfed by a mittee. “The future can only be construct- already slim electoral hopes. Swiss and US deepening corruption scandal as their ed without the current president, without authorities are both investigating corrup- sport faces criminal investigations in Sepp Blatter,” German soccer chief tion in world soccer, in long-running and the United States. Blatter, Wolfgang Niersbach said. “That would be probes that have so far led to the indict- the Swiss who has been president of a sign of a new start and would be a mark ment of 14 soccer officials and sports world governing body FIFA since 1998, for everyone that cleanliness was return- marketing executives. Among other was already due to stand down after an ing to football.” things, they are examining the awarding election to replace him in February. of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Platini, head of European body UEFA, was Jordanian rival Russia and respectively. All those a frontrunner to replace him. His shrink- If Platini is not able to overturn his ban banned yesterday can turn to FIFA’s ing election hopes now depend on and join the election race, it would leave Appeals Committee to try to overturn the whether he can overturn the 90-day ban Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan as the bans, but would remain suspended imposed by FIFA’s Ethics Committee. clear favorite, unless other candidates throughout any appeals process. Despite their denials of wrongdoing, now emerge to take advantage of the both men have gradually been sub- Frenchman’s troubles. South African Blatter ‘disappointed’ merged by the scandal that has rocked Tokyo Sexwale, who was imprisoned with Blatter’s lawyers said he was disap- the world’s most popular sport, begin- during the apartheid era pointed he had been suspended without ning with dawn raids and a series of and later became a politician and busi- having the chance to be heard. They arrests at a Swiss luxury hotel in May. nessman, has said he is considering run- added he was looking forward to pre- “During this time, the above individuals ning. Last week two sources told senting evidence that would prove he did are banned from all football activities on a that Bahraini Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim not engage in any misconduct. Platini, a national and international level,” the Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football former France midfield star, said he sub- ethics committee said. FIFA said in a Confederation, would consider standing mitted his nomination papers for the statement: “Joseph S. Blatter, for the dura- if Platini was ruled out. election to succeed Blatter before he was tion of the 90-day ban, is not allowed to The president of the International suspended. Shortly before his ban was represent FIFA in any capacity, act on the Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, said announced, he indicated he intended to organization’s behalf, or communicate to FIFA should consider an external candi- fight against the ruling. “I will stop at media or other stakeholders as a FIFA rep- date to succeed Blatter. “They must do nothing to ensure that the truth is resentative.” two things immediately: they must accel- known,” Platini said in a statement. It said his acting replacement was Issa erate and deepen the reform process in “Nobody should be in any doubt as to my Hayatou of Cameroon, the head of the order to comply with accountability, determination to achieve that objective.” Confederation of African Football (CAF) transparency and all the principles of “In the meantime, a dispassionate, and FIFA’s most senior vice president. In good governance,” he said in his independent and impartial judicial body 2011, Hayatou, 69, was reprimanded by strongest statement yet on the crisis. needs to shine a light on the events that the International Olympics Committee’s “They should also be open for a credible led the FIFA Ethics Committee to open ethics commission after he confirmed to external presidential candidate of high these investigatory proceedings,” added them that he was paid by FIFA’s former integrity, to accomplish the necessary the Frenchman. A spokesman for Platini marketing agency International Sport and reforms and bring back stability and cred- was unable to comment on whether he A combination made yesterday shows four pictures showing (left to Leisure in 1995. The IOC said such an ibility to FIFA,” he added. intended to appeal. The statement from right, from upper row) FIFA president Sepp Blatter, UEFA leader action constituted a conflict of interest. In further disciplinary moves, FIFA also the Ethics Committee did not give out Michel Platini, South Korean FIFA Honorary Vice President Chung Hayatou denied any personal gain or handed out a 90-day suspension to details of any offence committed by Mong-Joon and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke. FIFA’s ethics wrongdoing. Secretary General Jerome Valcke, who Blatter and Platini. While it is not allowed watchdog yesterday suspended world body president Sepp Blatter In a statement yesterday, the had already been sent on leave after to discuss any probes, the investigation is and UEFA leader Michel Platini for 90 days after they were named in a Cameroonian said he would not be a can- being accused of being part of a scheme almost certainly looking into a 2 million Swiss corruption case. The independent ethics committee also banned didate for FIFA president in February and to sell 2014 World Cup tickets at a Swiss francs ($2.06 million) payment South Korean tycoon, Chung Mong-Joon, like Platini a candidate for had taken the role on “only on an interim marked-up price. He denies any wrong- from FIFA to Platini in 2011, nine years the FIFA presidency for six years. FIFA secretary general Jerome basis”. The soccer federation of Germany, doing. South Korea’s former FIFA Vice- after he completed a spell working for Valcke, already ordered to leave by FIFA over a separate ticketing winner of last year’s World Cup, urged President Chung Mong-joon was banned Blatter as an adviser. — Reuters scandal, was suspended for 90 days. — AFP Kuwait threatened Jordan beat Asian champions Australia with FIFA ban South Korea cap a miserable week for Kuwait KUWAIT: Kuwait has been threatened with a ban by FIFA because of government interference in the running of the SINGAPORE: Jordan stunned Asian champi- became a little chaotic and we couldn’t get ing yesterday, a further point back in third. local football association. World governing body FIFA has giv- ons Australia 2-0 yesterday to throw open into any flow,” Postecoglou told Fox Sports. Japan leapfrogged Syria and went top of en the Kuwait Football Association until next week to avoid their World Cup qualifying group after hand- “We had a couple of chances but overall we Group E after Keisuke Honda’s 55th-minute the implementation of a new set of sports laws that FIFA ing the Socceroos their first loss of the cam- lost control of the game. “We had to roll our penalty was followed by a close-range effort believes threaten the autonomy of the KFA when they are due paign. Ange Postecoglou’s side were the big sleeves up and get a result, and we didn’t from Shinji Okazaki, while substitute Takashi to come into force on Oct 27. At FIFA’s executive committee casualties on another tricky night of qualify- tonight which is disappointing.” Only the Usami added a third in the dying minutes. meeting on September 25, the body decided to “contact the ing for Asia’s elite, with Iran producing a group winners in the five team pools are “We weren’t that good in the first half Kuwait Football Association about the new sport law and scratchy display before salvaging a 1-1 draw guaranteed a spot in the next round of but made adjustments at the break and warn about a suspension if nothing is done by 15 October against Oman in Group D, while South Korea Asian qualifying for Russia 2018 and improved in the second period,” Japan boss 2015 to avoid the implementation of the new law due to only edged Kuwait 1-0 away in Group G. Australia, winners of their first three match- Vahid Halihodzic was quoted as saying by come into force on 27 October 2015.” “We can confirm that in Four-times Asian champions Japan also es, now have little room for error. Iran, who Kyodo News. “All credit to the players. It was accordance with the decision of the Executive Committee a encountered some problems against Syria played at last year’s World Cup in Brazil, also a beautiful win and a collective effort.” letter was sent to the Kuwait FA,” a FIFA spokesperson said. before a second half flurry handed them a looked in a sticky situation in Group D after South Korea capped a miserable week for The world governing body has traditionally taken a dim 3-0 win in Muscat, while Iraq snatched a 1-1 Saad Al Mukhaini put Oman ahead follow- Kuwait, threatened with a FIFA ban for gov- view of government interference and banned Kuwait’s fellow draw in Vietnam after a 97th-minute penal- ing some poor defending from Ehsan ernment interference, by grabbing a 1-0 win Asian Football Confederation members Indonesia for the ty by Younis Mahmoud. There was no hero Hajisafi. thanks to Koo Ja-cheol’s 12th-minute head- offence in May which ruled them out of the ongoing World for the Socceroos in Amman, however, as a The Iranians, though, improved after the er to move three points clear of the hosts in Cup qualifying campaign. Kuwait has twice previously been thumping penalty by Hasan Abdel Fattah at break and Hajisafi atoned for his earlier error the pool. Former New Zealand boss Rickie banned for government interference by FIFA in 2007 and the start of the second half and a late sec- by firing in a cross from the left which Seyed Herbert enjoyed a first competitive win as 2008 and a third ban could have significant ramifications for ond from Hamza Al Dardour sent Jordan Jalal Hosseini turned in from close range in Maldives boss, a 4-3 victory in Bhutan where the February elections to decide upon a new leader at the top of Group B with 10 points from four the 70th minute. The two sides are level at the hosts fought back from 4-0 down and Switzerland-based body. — Reuters games. Australia have nine points. the top of the pool on eight points from threatened a draw with three goals in the “Once they got a goal up, the game four games, with Guam, who were not play- last five minutes. — Reuters