ZURICH — FIFA announced Friday that an extraordinary executive committee meeting will be held on Oct. 20 in Zurich to discuss the corruption crisis which has engulfed the governing body. "FIFA can today confirm that its Executive Committee will convene in Zurich on Tuesday 20 October 2015 for an extraordinary meeting," said a statement. "Further information will be communicated in due course." The announcement came just a day after embattled president Sepp Blatter and UEFA chief Michel Platini, one of the men lining up to succeed the 79-year-old in the FIFA hotseat, were both suspended for 90 days. Both men say they intend to appeal their suspensions. Blatter, however, is still hoping to return to power as FIFA president within the next 10 days. Klaus Stoehlker, a close associate of Blatter, told the Associated Press Friday that the Swiss official is aiming to be back at work very soon. "He has made an appeal and everybody hopes there will be a decision in the next 10 days," Stoehlker said. "He is very, very tough ... he is sure he will have the right to be back. He doesn't feel he is out of the job. That's a huge misunderstanding." FIFA on the other hand is mulling delaying the election for its next president, two sources have told Reuters. The issue is expected to be on the agenda of the emergency executive committee meeting which could make the decision to postpone the vote, scheduled for Feb. 26, the sources, with knowledge of the discussions, said Friday. A delay to the election could make it easier for Platini to be a candidate to replace the departing Blatter — if he succeeds in an appeal against his ban from the game. "For the time being, the schedule is as it is," a FIFA spokesperson told Reuters, adding that only the executive committee had the power to make a decision on the election date. The FIFA spokesperson did not want to speculate further. As it stands, the election nominations need to be provided by Oct. 26 and prospective candidates need to pass an integrity check based on FIFA's Ethics code.
Klopp promises ‘full throttle' football at Anfield Liverpool's new manager Juergen Klopp promised to bring “full throttle” football with a “big heart” to Anfield in his first comments since the German was unveiled as the Merseyside's club new manager Thursday night. The club's American owners, Fenway Sports Group, signed the former Borussia Dortmund manager on what is reported to be a three-year contract, after sacking Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers Sunday. One of the most coveted managers in world football, Klopp has been out of work since May when he finished a seven-year reign at Dortmund to take a sabbatical. “Firstly, I would like to offer thanks to the ownership of Liverpool Football Club for showing faith in me and my staff and presenting us with this wonderful opportunity,” Klopp told the club's website Friday (www.liverpoolfc.com). I believe in a playing philosophy that is very emotional, very fast and very strong. My teams must play at full throttle and take it to the limit every single game.” Klopp has been joined at Liverpool by Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz, his former assistants at Dortmund. — Agencies
