ZURICH: FIFA will hold a presidential election on Feb. 26, giving Sepp Blatter seven more months in power before leaving the scandal-tainted governing body.
The date was chosen by FIFA’s executive committee on Monday, after Blatter announced plans to resign four days following his re-election in May.
FIFA is reeling under the weight of American and Swiss criminal investigations into corruption, which led to 14 officials being indicted in May when Blatter won a fifth term.
FIFA’s 209 members will return to Zurich next year to select a new president almost than nine months after Blatter’s resignation statement.
Potential contenders include UEFA President Michel Platini and Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, who lost to Blatter in May.
Former Brazil great Zico and Liberia football federation president Musa Bility have said they will seek the five nominations required. --AFP