A special FIFA Ethics Committee has recommended that embattled President Sepp Blatter be suspended for 90 days. Pending a final decision from the ethics adjudicatory chamber, Blatter remains in office for now, per BBC’s Richard Conway:
Fifa ethics adjudicatory chamber can provisionally suspend officials for up to 90 days.
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) October 7, 2015
Very confusing picture from Zurich. Final decision on Blatter due tomorrow from Judge Eckhert. Recommendation is for 90 day suspension.
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) October 7, 2015
Judge Joachim Eckert, the man who presided over the controversial release of the findings in the probe led by independent investigator Michael Garcia, is the chair of the Ethics Committee, and he will be the one to announce the final decision. All indications, according to reports, seem to point to a decision coming on Thursday.
If Blatter is indeed suspended, African Confederation President Issa Hayatou would assume the role of FIFA President until the election of a new President at the upcoming extraordinary FIFA Congress on February 26th. Hayatou’s career as a soccer administrator is not entirely spotless, as he himself has come under scrutiny in the past. Hayatou has also faced vocal criticism from within his own confederation for being not much more than a Blatter clone or acolyte.
UEFA President Michel Platini continues to be under investigation by the FIFA Committee as well.
“Too little, too late”?
“Better late than never”?
There are plenty of cliches that will apply if this recommendation is accepted and Blatter is indeed forcibly removed from the position atop the house of cards that he has created. One thing is certain: if the suspension is enforced, observers will be encouraged to see FIFA taking actual steps to cleaning up rather than merely paying lip service to accountability measures.
UPDATE
Per Blatter’s attorneys, there has been no formal decision made yet, and Blatter has not been notified of any action:
Statement by Blatter's lawyers pic.twitter.com/zvMuVkZlpc
— Dan Roan (@danroan) October 7, 2015
TheAOSN will continue updating this story as it develops.
