Amid claims that he might stand again for election as FIFA president, Sepp Blatter has indicated that he will stick to his word and step down.
Blatter’s former election advisor Klaus Stoehlker had claimed it remains “open” for the 79-year-old to run again if a convincing candidate capabel of uniting the various FIFA factions, does not emerge in the comiung months.
However, a FIFA spokesperson said Stoehlker was no longer employed by Blatter and that the Swiss pointed to his statement of June 2, where he announced he would step down between December and February, following the emergence of the corruption scandal that has rocked world football’s governing body.
The FIFA spokesperson said: “Klaus Stoehlker’s mandate from the FIFA president ended on May 31, 2015. The FIFA president would like to point to his remarks from June 2.”
Stoehlker had told Sky News: “As long as there is not such a candidate it remains open for Sepp Blatter to run again.”
Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, has urged Blatter to stick with his plans to resign.
Scala said: “For me, the reforms are the central topic. That is why I think it is clearly indispensable to follow through with the initiated process of leadership change as it has been announced.”
Meanwhile, Switzerland’s attorney general will make a statement on Wednesday about his investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Michael Lauber is expected to outline the scope of the investigation as well as the nature of the “criminal proceedings.”
A statement from his office said: “Attorney general Lauber will make a statement on the ongoing criminal proceedings in connection with the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups.
“The attorney general will not deliver any further information, other than his statement concerning the ongoing football investigation.”
