FIFA To Hold Special Election On Feb 26 To Replace President Sepp Blatter

20 July, Zurich

FIFA will hold a special election on February 26 to replace President Sepp Blatter, football’s scandal-tainted world body said Monday as French football great Michel Platini moved closer to launching a campaign.

The FIFA executive, including rivals Blatter and Platini, agreed the date at a meeting in Zurich. Blatter announced on June 2, four days after winning a fifth term as President, that he would stand down as a major corruption storm hit world football’s ruling body.

Today’s decision was a victory for Blatter who had wanted the vote pushed back until 2016. UEFA and some other regional bodies had sought a December election. FIFA is still reeling from the arrest of seven officials at a Zurich congress two days before Blatter won re-election on May 29.

The seven are among 14 people — soccer officials and sports business executives — accused by US authorities over more than 150 million dollars in bribes paid to secure television and marketing contracts for football tournaments.