**Issa Hayatou Could Temporarily Lead FIFA Amid Blatter Investigation**
With FIFA President Sepp Blatter facing criminal proceedings by Swiss authorities, speculation is mounting over who might take charge of the organisation should Blatter be suspended or removed from office. Issa Hayatou, FIFA’s senior vice-president and long-serving member of the Executive Committee, is poised to assume provisional leadership if such a scenario unfolds.
Blatter, who has been embroiled in the ongoing FIFA corruption scandal known as “FIFA Gate,” could be sidelined pending investigations. Under FIFA statutes, this would grant Hayatou, as senior vice-president, the authority to manage day-to-day affairs of the organisation until the next FIFA elections scheduled for February 26, 2016. Hayatou has been a member of the FIFA Executive Committee since 1990 and has extensive experience in football administration.
However, the prospect of Hayatou taking the helm is not without controversy. Like Blatter, Hayatou has faced longstanding criticism over allegations of corruption during his tenure as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and within FIFA structures. Despite suspicions, no formal investigations have been launched against him to date. The most notable scare came during the FIFA election congress in May, which ultimately did not result in charges.
More recently, Hayatou publicly acknowledged receiving a payment of \$1.8 million from Qatar’s representatives. This sum was reportedly paid to CAF to facilitate Qatar’s presentation of its 2022 World Cup bid during the CAF congress in Luanda, Angola, in January 2010, coinciding with the African Cup of Nations. The revelation has added further scrutiny to his role within football governance.
As FIFA navigates this turbulent period, the organisation’s future leadership remains uncertain. Should Blatter step aside or be removed, Hayatou’s appointment as interim president would likely spark intense debate within football circles, given his contentious reputation.
The upcoming FIFA elections in February will ultimately determine the long-term leadership of world football’s governing body amid calls for reform and greater transparency.
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