This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32917364

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Fifa corruption inquiry: Sepp Blatter under pressure Fifa corruption inquiry: Sepp Blatter defies calls to quit
(about 1 hour later)
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has chaired an emergency meeting of football's governing body under growing political pressure over a corruption scandal. Fifa president Sepp Blatter has told an emergency meeting of football's governing body he will not quit, amid growing political pressure over a corruption scandal.
Seven senior Fifa officials were arrested in Zurich on Wednesday at the request of US prosecutors. Seven top Fifa officials were arrested in Zurich on Wednesday, among 14 people indicted by US prosecutors.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron is calling for Mr Blatter to resign but Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed Mr Blatter for a fifth term. UK PM David Cameron urged Mr Blatter to resign but Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed him for a fifth term.
Mr Blatter told the emergency meeting he would not resign. Fifa's congress opens later. The vote for president will go ahead on Friday.
Friday's presidential election will now go ahead and Europe's football body Uefa, which had threatened a boycott, says it will attend. Michel Platini, the head of Uefa, the European football governing body, had asked Mr Blatter to resign after the crisis talks in Zurich, which involved heads of the six international confederations. The president refused.
The head of Uefa, Michel Platini, had asked Mr Blatter to resign at the crisis talks in Zurich, which involved heads of the six international confederations. Mr Platini later said that if Mr Blatter were re-elected, Uefa might have to discuss its relations with Fifa.
Key sponsors have expressed concern over twin corruption investigations by both the US and Swiss authorities.Key sponsors have expressed concern over twin corruption investigations by both the US and Swiss authorities.
Fifa bans Uefa threat
Mr Blatter was not among the 14 people charged by the US authorities on Wednesday with racketeering, fraud and money laundering. Seven were the Fifa officials arrested by Swiss police in Zurich.
The emergency meeting was Mr Blatter's first appearance since the crisis began on Wednesday.The emergency meeting was Mr Blatter's first appearance since the crisis began on Wednesday.
At a Uefa press conference later, Mr Platini said he had asked Mr Blatter for a private meeting but the president had asked him to speak in front of the other confederation heads. He was not among the 14 people charged by the US authorities on Wednesday with racketeering, fraud and money laundering.
Mr Platini said he had asked Mr Blatter "as a friend" to resign, but the president said it was too late as Fifa's congress was about to start. At a Uefa news conference later, Mr Platini said he had asked Mr Blatter "as a friend" to resign, saying: "I have had enough - enough is enough, too much is too much.
Mr Platini said: "So many scandals have shaken Fifa. Fifa does not deserve to be treated like this." "I say these things with tears in my eyes. I don't like it this way. But there are just too many scandals."
But the president told Mr Platini it was too late, as Fifa's congress was about to start.
Uefa agreed at its meeting on Thursday to throw its weight behind Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Mr Blatter's only challenger, in Friday's vote.Uefa agreed at its meeting on Thursday to throw its weight behind Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Mr Blatter's only challenger, in Friday's vote.
The vice-chairman of England's Football Association, David Gill, said he would not take up his post on Fifa's executive committee if Mr Blatter was re-elected. Mr Platini said that if Mr Blatter won, Uefa could hold an extraordinary meeting in Berlin at the time of the Champions League final.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) said in a statement that it opposed any delay to the vote. The BBC understands Uefa was the only confederation to put pressure on Mr Blatter to quit. When asked if this could include withdrawing from Fifa competitions, Mr Platini said: "We will raise all possibilities."
Pressed on the possibility of a World Cup boycott, he said: "There may be proposals. I honestly don't wish that."
Mr Platini said the other confederations had wanted the vote to go ahead "and let the best man win".
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) said in a statement that it opposed any delay to the vote.
Meanwhile, Britain's David Gill said he would not take up his post on Fifa's executive committee if Mr Blatter were re-elected.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had earlier urged a delay in the vote, saying Fifa's current image was disastrous.French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had earlier urged a delay in the vote, saying Fifa's current image was disastrous.
Mr Putin, however, said the allegations against Fifa were a clear attempt by the US to stop Mr Blatter's re-election.Mr Putin, however, said the allegations against Fifa were a clear attempt by the US to stop Mr Blatter's re-election.
Swiss investigationSwiss investigation
Fifa has provisionally banned from football-related activity 11 of the 14 people charged. Fifa on Wednesday provisionally banned from football-related activity 11 of the 14 people charged in the US. On Thursday it added another, Aaron Davidson.
Some of the officials are accused of receiving bribes to influence the outcome of bids to stage football tournaments, such as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2016 Copa America in the US. South African government officials have denied the claim. Some of the 14 are accused of receiving bribes to influence the outcome of bids to stage football tournaments, such as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2016 Copa America in the US.
South African government officials have denied the claim.
One of those indicted, Chuck Blazer, the former top American official at Fifa, has already pleaded guilty to four charges and has been a co-operating witness for the FBI since he quit football in 2013.One of those indicted, Chuck Blazer, the former top American official at Fifa, has already pleaded guilty to four charges and has been a co-operating witness for the FBI since he quit football in 2013.
In addition to Coca-Cola and Visa, major sponsors Adidas, McDonald's, Hyundai Motor, Budweiser and Gazprom are also pressing Fifa to take immediate action to restore its reputation.In addition to Coca-Cola and Visa, major sponsors Adidas, McDonald's, Hyundai Motor, Budweiser and Gazprom are also pressing Fifa to take immediate action to restore its reputation.
Swiss prosecutors plan to interview 10 Fifa executive committee members as part of a separate investigation into the bidding process for the World Cup tournaments in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar.Swiss prosecutors plan to interview 10 Fifa executive committee members as part of a separate investigation into the bidding process for the World Cup tournaments in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar.
Are you a football fan from Qatar or Russia? What do you think about the latest developments? What would you like to see happen next? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments.Are you a football fan from Qatar or Russia? What do you think about the latest developments? What would you like to see happen next? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments.
If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100.If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. You can also tweet your stories to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100.
Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971
Read our terms and conditions.Read our terms and conditions.