FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini "are likely to escape lifetime bans for corruption but investigators expect the pair to receive lengthy suspensions of at least seven years when their hearings take place this week," according to the PA. Blatter and Platini will have disciplinary hearings before FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert in Zurich on Thursday and Friday, over a $2M "payment made to Platini" by FIFA in '11 and "signed off by Blatter." Sources with knowledge of the case said that "it will be difficult to prove corruption, which carries a lifetime ban, but believe there is clear evidence of a conflict of interest in the payment being made." That "should carry a ban of at least seven years, but it is likely any suspension for wrongdoing will effectively end their careers in football administration." Blatter’s "case will be heard on Thursday with Platini’s following on Friday" (PA, 12/14).
HUMAN RIGHTS: The AP's Rob Harris reported FIFA asked a Harvard professor to "formulate human rights requirements for World Cup hosts and commercial partners at the scandal-tarnished governing body." Professor John Ruggie "will provide a report in March showing how business and human rights principles he conceived for the United Nations can speedily become" part of FIFA's working practices (AP, 12/14).
NO NAKHID: REUTERS' Tim Collings reported the Court of Arbitration for Sport said that former Trinidad and Tobago player David Nakhid "cannot run for the presidency" of FIFA. CAS explained in a statement on Monday that "it had dismised his appeal against a decision taken by FIFA's electoral committee on Oct. 28 during which his candidacy was refused." Nakhid "needed written backing from five national football associations." He was barred from registering by FIFA's electoral committee "because one association had signed letters of support for Nakhid and a rival candidate" (REUTERS, 12/14).
CALLEJAS INDICTED: REUTERS' Gustavo Palencia reported former Honduran President Rafael Callejas on Monday flew to the U.S. "where he has been indicted for alleged links to a multi-million-dollar bribery scheme" at FIFA. Callejas, who served as Honduran president from '90-94, has said that he "bore no responsibility for any of the accusations and was ready to defend himself against the charges" (REUTERS, 12/14).
