* Interpol issues red alert for executives * Resignation opens new presidential race * S. Africa says $10m payment not a bribe ZURICH — Sepp Blatter's shock resignation as FIFA president failed Wednesday to quell the corruption storm surrounding football's world body that now even threatens to touch him. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now looking into Blatter's role in tens of millions of dollars of bribes given to football officials, according to US media. Interpol meanwhile put six other suspects, including two former FIFA executive members, on its most wanted list. Critics of the 79-year-old Swiss official rejoiced at his thunderbolt announcement Tuesday that he would stand down as soon as an election can be held to find a successor. His decision sparked a global race to take over as head of the world's richest and most powerful sporting federation.
South Korean tycoon Chung Mong-joon, Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, who was beaten by Blatter in a vote last Friday, and Brazilian football legend Zico all said they could take part. Most eyes remain on Michel Platini, the UEFA president who has not given a hint of his plans. A special congress to choose Blatter's replacement cannot be held before December, according to Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA's independent audit and compliance committee. But Platini did call off a meeting of the European confederation to discuss the FIFA crisis in Berlin Saturday because of the “uncertain and unpredictable events” surrounding the world body. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which has been a staunch ally of Blatter, said it would discuss internally the “best way forward for both FIFA and world football.” US authorities have charged 14 football officials and sports company executives over more than $150 million in bribes. US Attorney General Loretta Lynch refused Wednesday to comment on reports that Blatter is also a FBI target. “We are not able to comment further at this point,” Lynch said at talks in Riga with her EU counterparts when asked if Blatter was under investigation. “We will now be speaking through the courts,” Lynch said ominously. “The investigation is ongoing.” The New York Times, which broke news of seven arrests before the FIFA congress last week, quoted law enforcement officials and other sources to back their report that the FIFA chief is now in line. ABC News said Blatter was part of the larger probe that led to the arrest of seven FIFA officials in a luxury Swiss hotel last Wednesday. Acting on a US request, Interpol Wednesday put disgraced FIFA former executive members Jack Warner and Nicolas Leoz on their most wanted list and issued an international alert. Four heads of sports marketing companies have also been put on the list. All six are among the 14 wanted by US authorities. In parallel to the US inquiry, Swiss prosecutors are looking into the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar. English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke raised the possibility that the controversial vote that awarded Qatar the 2022 tournament could be re-run. “If I was the Qatari organizers I wouldn't sleep very well tonight,” he told British media. Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Thani hit back, indicating the state will not give up hosting soccer's showpiece event without a fight. The Kremlin said Russia was surprised by Blatter's resignation but was pressing on with preparations for the World Cup Finals in 2018. FIFA has also denied that another senior official, Secretary General Jerome Valcke, was involved in a $10 million payment approved by the South African Football Association that lies at the heart of the US investigation. At a news conference in Johannesburg, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula denied that the payment to Warner during South Africa's successful bid for the 2010 World Cup was a bribe. Key sponsors said FIFA still has a lot of work to do to clear its name. — Agencies
