Off the wire
China honors military divers for Yangtze River search efforts  • Roundup: Philippine bourse closes almost flat on lack of clear leads  • Weather forecast for world cities -- June 4  • Weather forecast for major Chinese cities, regions -- June 4  • Weather information for Asia-Pacific cities  • Mauritius appoints Ameenah Gurib-Fakim as first woman president  • 2nd LD: Egypt's Mubarak to face retrial over killing of protesters  • 21 have died since start of Burundi protests, Red Cross says  • Chinese firms relieved after gov'ts cancel random fees  • China refutes senior U.S. diplomat's accusation on land reclamation  
You are here:   Home

Blatter could possibly attend Women's World Cup final

Xinhua, June 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sepp Blatter, who has resigned as FIFA president, could still possibly attend the Women's World Cup final, a FIFA spokesman who asked for anonymity told Xinhua on Wednesday

Blatter would not leave office until a fresh election is held to appoint his successor. It would probably not take place before at least December.

His travel schedule was disrupted by his sudden resignation, and his plan to attend the Women's World Cup Final in July 5 is left in balance, though he is entitled to make it.

"In terms of the FIFA President, his future travel plans will be confirmed in due course. That said, please note that he plans to attend the final," said the FIFA spokesman.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke abandoned his plan to show up at the opening of the World Cup as he was involved in a money transfer scandal.

Blatter announced his resignation in the wake of this scandal.

Blatter, 79, has been the figurehead of FIFA for nearly two decades but after 14 individuals, including nine FIFA officials, were indicted by the the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI on allegations of corruption and bribery last week, his tenure and the senior leadership of FIFA has come under increased scrutiny.

Blatter, who is Swiss, would have protection from extradition from Switzerland because Article 7 of IMAC (the governing Swiss law) prohibits the extradition of Swiss nationals.

But if he moves abroad at a time when an indictment was presented by the US authorities to the country he was visiting, he would be much more vulnerable to an extradition request. Endi