ZURICH, (Reuters) – Interpol put two top former FIFA officials on its “red notice†wanted list at the request of U.S. authorities today as their investigation into corruption at soccer’s governing body gathered pace.
The move by the international police body came the day after FIFA President Sepp Blatter stunned world soccer by resigning shortly before it emerged that he was also under investigation by U.S. law enforcement. Blatter was not on Interpol’s list.
A source close to FIFA said it was Blatter’s advisers who had told him he must reverse course and quit. Critics pointed to the widening criminal probe, disquiet among sponsors, and pressure from European soccer body UEFA as possible reasons.
With Blatter saying he no longer had the mandate he sought, UEFA postponed a meeting due on Saturday at which there might have been talk of a revolt against FIFA.
UEFA had opposed Blatter, and Michel Platini, the UEFA president who is favourite to succeed the 79-year-old Swiss national, had urged him not to stand for re-election as FIFA faced the worst crisis in its 111-year history.
The move by the international police body came the day after FIFA President Sepp Blatter stunned world soccer by resigning shortly before it emerged that he was also under investigation by U.S. law enforcement. Blatter was not on Interpol’s list.
A source close to FIFA said it was Blatter’s advisers who had told him he must reverse course and quit. Critics pointed to the widening criminal probe, disquiet among sponsors, and pressure from European soccer body UEFA as possible reasons.
With Blatter saying he no longer had the mandate he sought, UEFA postponed a meeting due on Saturday at which there might have been talk of a revolt against FIFA.
UEFA had opposed Blatter, and Michel Platini, the UEFA president who is favourite to succeed the 79-year-old Swiss national, had urged him not to stand for re-election as FIFA faced the worst crisis in its 111-year history.
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