FIFA sets succession date

FIFA’s executive committee has chosen Feb. 26 as the date for the extraordinary congress in which it will pick a new president.

Sepp Blatter, who in May won reelection to a fifth term as head ofworld soccer’s governing body, promised to step down days later in the wake of a corruption investigation by U. S. and Swiss authorities that led to the arrests of nine FIFA officials. The probes are ongoing and authorities have confirmed that Blatter is among those being investigated.

As for who will succeed Blatter, the field has yet to begin forming. Prince Ali bin al- Hussein of Jordan, who forced Blatter into a second round of balloting in May, hasn’t said whether he will run. A possible candidate is Michel Platini, the president of UEFA, the European soccer union, and a Blatter supporter turned-detractor. Former FIFA vice president ChungMong- joon said Tuesday in South Korea he is leaning toward running.

On Monday, Prince Ali criticized FIFA’s decision to delay the election, saying it gives Blatter more influence over the process.