Blatter expects to be at FIFA election

GENEVA — Sepp Blatter expects to attend the FIFA election on Feb. 26 even though his appeal against an eight-year ban is unlikely to be resolved by then. Blatter’s spokesman, Thomas Renggli, told the Associated Press Friday that the suspended FIFA president “should be present at the congress.” Blatter and his lawyers believe FIFA rules mean only a meeting of the 209 member federations who elect a president can formally remove one. “Only the congress, according to the statutes, can put Mr. Blatter out of his mandate,” Renggli said in a telephone interview. Renggli also clarified the legal timetable for Blatter to challenge his ban by the FIFA ethics committee. Blatter is scheduled return to FIFA headquarters on Feb. 16 for an appeal committee hearing, and an immediate ruling is expected. However, if the appeal panel confirms Blatter’s ban, it could take weeks to write the detailed verdict, Renggli said. Case documents are needed in hand before appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport can be filed and registered. The FIFA ethics committee banned Blatter last month for a range of charges, including conflict of interest in approving $2 million of FIFA money for Michel Platini in 2011. — Reuters