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Sepp Blatter Suspended, Issa Hayatou Takes Over As FIFA President

Acting FIFA President, Issa Hayatu
Acting FIFA President, Issa Hayatu

President of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, Issa Hayatou has been named acting president of world football governing body, FIFA, following the suspension of Sepp Blatter for 90 days.

Hayatou was the longest serving vice president on FIFA’s executive committee and will thus oversee the running of the global football body till February 26 when a new president will be elected.

Blatter was suspended by the ethics committee alongside his European football association counterpart, Michel Platini, who was also his vice president, Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s secretary general, who was relieved of his duties on September 17.

They have all been banned from all football-related activities provisionally for 90 days, which can be extended by not more than 45 days, according to FIFA rules while the Ethics Committee conducts investigations into the allegations against them.



Blatter is facing criminal investigation by Swiss authority for corrupt practices including underhand dealings related to the sale of TV rights in 2005 and disloyalty payment to Platini between 1999 and 2002.

“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 Adjudicatory Chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee to provisionally ban him from all football activities on a national and international level.,” a statement on FIFA’s website read.




     

     

    “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,” it further stated.

    South Korean football administrator and former FIFA vice president, Chung Mong-joon, who is campaigning to succeed Blatter, is banned for six years  and fined $107, 000 following his implication in the allegation of fraud in the bidding process for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cups.

    Announcing his assumption of office as acting president, Hayatou, who hails from Cameroon and has been in charge of African football since 1988, ruled himself out in the race for FIFA presidency.

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    “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,” he said.
     

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