Blatter Appeals Against Ban

FIFA President Sepp Blatter is appealing against his 90-day ban from football’s world governing body.

Blatter has been suspended, while Fifa’s ethics committee investigates corruption claims against him.

The 79-year-old Swiss was suspended on Thursday along with secretary general Jerome Valcke and vice-president Michel Platini. All three deny wrongdoing.

The Football Association has asked Fifa to hold an emergency meeting to discuss February’s presidential election.

Platini, the FA’s preferred candidate in the election to replace Blatter, will contest the ban “in the appropriate manner at the appropriate time”.

Klaus Stohlker, Blatter’s friend and adviser, said: “He has appealed already to Fifa’s appeal committee. He is defending his position and he is sure that he will be found not guilty.”

However, some have questioned Blatter’s desire to stay in charge. Former Football Association chairman David Bernstein told the BBC: “Blatter is a fool to himself to stay on for so long.”

David Gill, a Fifa vice-president and the vice-chairman of the FA, has written to Markus Kattner, Fifa’s acting secretary general, to request an emergency meeting of the governing body’s executive committee.

African football confederation chief Issa Hayatou, Fifa’s longest-serving vice-president, is heading the organisation in Blatter’s enforced absence.

Fifa’s ethics committee began its investigation into Blatter after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against him in September.