GOAL 

Sepp Blatter has been provisionally suspended as FIFA president for 90 days by the organization's ethic committee, according to his adviser, with the decision to be ratified as soon as Thursday.

The 79-year-old is being investigated by Swiss authorities over payments made to Uefa chief Michel Platini and allegations that broadcasting rights to World Cup 2010 were sold for a fraction of their market value to the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).

Criminal proceedings being brought against Blatter triggered an ethics committee this week and the decision was made to sideline the president until January, leaving him with just over a month left in the role before February's elections.

Blatter will continue to attend work for Fifa ahead of the ethics committee's recommendation being actioned, his public relations adviser Klaus Stohlker has claimed, and he hinted the decision to suspend him could yet be overturned.

"The news was communicated to the president this afternoon," Stohlker told BBC Sport. "He is calm. Remember he is the father of the ethics committee.

"This is provisional for 90 days but he is not actually suspended. The committee has not yet made a decision and their meetings continue."

Blatter's immediate fate will be sealed by Hans-Joachim Eckert this week, who heads Fifa's ethics adjudicatory chamber.

There is no word on whether Platini - who is accused of accepting a payment of £1.35 million from Fifa, signed off by Blatter - will also face a 90-day suspension, which would critically affect his chances of becoming Fifa president in February's elections.

Blatter announced his resignation from the world football governing body within a week of having won the presidential election at the end of May due to a torrent of FBI indictments made on the eve of voting.

Since then, Fifa has continued to suffer a string of negative headlines. Blatter's right-hand man, secretary general Jerome Valcke, was released of his duties "until further notice" following allegations he saught to earn huge profits via World Cup ticket touting.