By Andrew Warshaw
June 10 – A new FIFA president could be in place by Christmas according to the time scale being put in place to replace Sepp Blatter. As developments move on apace in the wake of Blatter’s dramatic decision to step down, reports suggest that mid-December could be the date when football’s world governing body enters a new era at an extraordinary Congress.
Such a congress has to be called by FIFA’s new-look executive committee, who are due to convene in July, with December 16 the likely date for fresh elections. All 209 member associations would be called back to Zurich to vote.
This date would be in the middle of FIFA’s Club World Cup which is scheduled to be played in Japan this year, December 10-20.
Blatter, 79, quit just four days after being re-elected last month amid two separate corruption probes being carried out by the Swiss and US authorities. So far he has not been implicated in either.
Domenico Scala, FIFA’s independent head of audit and compliance, outlined last week that any election to replace Blatter would happen between December and March under the statutes. With the threat of further charges being revealed by US law enforcement agencies in the coming weeks or months, Blatter is understood to be keen to hand over as soon as due process allows, having put in place a number of reforms for his successor to take forward. So far, no candidates have officially confirmed they will stand as they await a decision on protocol.
“It requires an extraordinary executive committee to confirm a date and agenda for the extraordinary elective Congress,” said a FIFA spokesperson.
“This extraordinary executive committee will convene in July, the precise date to be confirmed this week. There are currently various date options for discussion at this extraordinary executive committee meeting.”
Meanwhile, shamed former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, already embroiled in the infamous $10m which US authorities claim he took as a bribe, is now face accusations of diverting funds earmarked for Haiti earthquake relief following the 2010 disaster to bank accounts he controlled.
The BBC says it has seen documents claiming Warner, who is facing extradition from Trinidad and Tobago to stand trial in the US on allegations of corruption and bribery, diverted US$750,000 in emergency funds donated by FIFA and the South Korean Football Association.
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