Swiss newspaper Handelszeitung reported an internal investigation of suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter has "found no evidence of corruption" over a 2M Swiss franc payment to UEFA President Michel Platini, according to Michael Shields of REUTERS. The report said that Blatter "also faced suspicions of ethics violations given that the payment had failed to appear in FIFA accounts for some time." The ethics committee, due to rule on the case by year's end, "has taken a hard line so far in corruption cases." Investigators "have raised questions about the payment" in '11 from FIFA to Platini, a former France team captain and coach, for work he did between '98 and '02. Blatter "had been seeking re-election" in '11. Citing an unnamed source, Handelszeitung said that the internal inquiry "had been unable to substantiate bribery suspicions." The source said, "Tangible and legally admissible evidence for the allegation of corruption can be found nowhere in the entire investigative report." The paper said that Platini had asked FIFA for his overdue salary at least twice in '10 and that "FIFA's finance chief had set aside money for the payment" (REUTERS, 12/10).
CAS DECISIONS: REUTERS' Shine & Herman reported sport's highest tribunal will announce its decision "on Friday whether or not to temporarily lift the 90-day ban" on Platini. The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport said in a statement on Thursday that its panel had "heard the parties' arguments, and would announce its decision on Platini" at around 10am local time (4am ET) on Friday. Even a temporary lifting of the provisional ban by CAS could allow Platini to run, "although FIFA's electoral commission said it would study the case depending on the timing" (REUTERS, 12/10). The AP reported FIFA presidential hopeful Musa Bility "could be declared an official candidate" by CAS this month "despite failing an integrity check." CAS said that FIFA "agreed a fast-track case for Bility to appeal against his candidacy being rejected." CAS said that its hearing "could take place before Christmas" and a verdict given by the end of the year (AP, 12/9).
EXTRADITION: REUTERS' Nelson Renteria reported El Salvador's Supreme Court on Wednesday approved the extradition of the country's former Football Federation President Reynaldo Vasquez, who is wanted in the U.S. "in connection with a probe targeting alleged corruption in the sport." Supreme Court Judge Sidney Blanco said that the extradition order was approved by 15 judges after an arrest warrant from the U.S. "that had been missing was added to the file" (REUTERS, 12/9).
