Interpol has put two top former FIFA officials on its “red notice” wanted list at the request of United States (U.S.) authorities on Wednesday as their investigation into corruption at football’s governing body gathered pace.
South Africa confirmed it had given $10 million (7 million pounds) meant to help pay for the 2010 World Cup to a football official indicted last week in the United States, but said the payment was not a bribe as U.S. prosecutors allege.
The latest developments in the scandal engulfing FIFA came a day after Sepp Blatter stunned international football by resigning as the world body’s president shortly before it emerged that he too was under investigation by US law enforcement. Blatter was not on Interpol’s list.
A source close to FIFA said it was Blatter’s advisers who had told him he must reverse course and quit. Critics pointed to the widening criminal probe, disquiet among sponsors, and pressure from European football body UEFA as possible reasons.
With Blatter saying he no longer had the mandate he sought, UEFA postponed a meeting due on Saturday where there might have been talk of a revolt against FIFA.
UEFA had opposed Blatter, and Michel Platini, the UEFA president who is favourite to succeed the 79-year-old Swiss national, had urged him not to stand for re-election as FIFA faced the worst crisis in its 111-year history.
