ZURICH (AP) – The Latest on the FIFA presidential election (all times local):
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11:35 a.m.
The head of the committee that ruled on reducing the bans of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini to six years has declined to answer questions about his decision.
Larry Mussenden, the president of the Bermuda soccer association, says “I’m not going to talk about it.”
Mussenden is also one of the candidates running for president of the North American soccer confederation. By becoming CONCACAF president, Mussenden would also become a FIFA vice president.
CONCACAF’s last three presidents have been charged with corruption by American prosecutors: Jack Warner, Jeffrey Webb and Alfredo Hawit. Webb has pleaded guilty and Hawit not guilty. Warner is fighting extradition.
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11 a.m.
Candidates are making their final pitches to secure votes for Friday’s election to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.
The first confederations meeting Thursday were the CONCACAF and Oceania regions.
Outsider Tokyo Sexwale, a former Robben Island political prisoner, says “I have come this far. I am used to obstacles.”
The South African adds that “FIFA is a house broken and needs to be repaired” but stressed “football is not broken.”
The favorite is Asian soccer confederation president Sheikh Salman. UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, former FIFA vice president Prince Ali of Jordan and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne are also in the running.
Blatter decided to step down amid investigations into widespread wrongdoing in soccer.