president Sepp Blatter for 90 days. Head of
the committee, Klaus Stoehlker, who has
advised Blatter in the past, says the
committee made the ruling pending further
investigations by the Swiss attorney
general following accusations of
corruption.
He described it as a "pending" verdict, and
said no negative finding had been made
against the head of world football's
governing body.
The announcement comes just hours after
Blatter criticized the criminal investigation
against him in Switzerland, describing it as
"outrageous". He also defended his
decision to remain as head of the football
organising body and not step down
immediately, as worldwide sponsors have
urged.
The 90-day suspension is the longest
FIFA's ethics committee can hand down
while they carry out their investigation.
Last month, the Swiss attorney general
announced that Blatter will face charges of
"criminal mismanagement" and
"misappropriation." Among the charges is
an allegation that Blatter gave a "disloyal
payment" to UEFA president Michel Platini
totaling 2 million francs ($2.1 million). That
payment is alleged to have been made
three months before Platini announced he
would not run against Blather in the 2011
FIFA presidential election.
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