Filed under: Football
So Sepp Blatter lives to fight another day ... and another.Fifa's ethics committee has cleared Blatter, the much-maligned Fifa president, of any wrongdoing in the bribery scandal that has engulfed the world's governing body and which his critics sorely hoped might bring about his downfall.
The long-serving overlord of world football will face no independent, external probe into allegations surrounding financial payments following the ethics committee's investigations in Zurich.
That means Blatter is free to stand for re-election unopposed for a fourth term, in the vote that will take place on Wednesday, at the end of a day of high drama and intrigue in Switzerland.
Meanwhile, vice-president Jack Warner and Mohamed bin Hammam have been provisionally suspended by the game's governing body pending a full inquiry.
Bin Hammam - who withdrew from the presidency race hours before Sunday's hearing - and fellow member Warner are in the spotlight following claims from American Chuck Blazer, general secretary of Concacaf, that bribes were offered to members of the Caribbean Football Union (Cfu).
"The committee concluded that the implicated officials must be temporarily excluded from active participation in football activies," said ethics committee deputy chairman Petrus Damaseb in a dramatic media conference after the hearing.
Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester, officials at the Cfu, were also suspended on Sunday, along with Warner and bin Hammam.
The allegations surfaced following a meeting of the Cfu in Port of Spain, Trinidad at which, it is alleged, bribes were offered in an attempt to influence this week's presidency vote.
"Some individuals alleged that money was paid as an inducement to support Mr bin Hammam's candidacy, facilitated by Jack Warner," said Damaseb.
Blatter was dragged into the hearing when bin Hammam claimed he may have known about the payments but Damaseb was forthright in clearing the president's name. "No investigation against Blatter is warranted," he said.
However, the other two major players in the affair have not escaped. "The committee is satisfied there is a case to answer, therefore a case will be held in due course where they will be expected to answer the charges against them," added Damaseb
But while the duo face a possible ban from all football activity, Blatter, the most powerful man in the sport since his original election to the Fifa presidency in 1998, has once again emerged as the winner in this power battle.
For many, it's no surprise.
But Fifa's image is once again under the microscope as their tarnished reputation continues to be dragged through the mud.
And with Blatter now given with a clear run to the presidency, given he is the only remaining candidate for the vote, he will remain in charge of football for some time to come.
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