FIFA judges extend Makudi suspension by 45 days

FIFA's ethics judges announced Saturday the extension of Thai football chief Worawi Makudi's temporary suspension for 45 more days, over allegations of an ethics breach.

"The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee ... has decided to extend the suspension of Mr Worawi Makudi by 45 days, at the request of the investigatory chamber," the tribunal said in a statement.

It pointed out that the 90-day suspension imposed on Worawi on October 7 would expire at midnight, and said the additional 45-day-suspension would begin immediately after that, on Sunday.

The court provided no further details, but in October it said Worawi was suspected of "a breach of the Code of Ethics".

Worawi was a FIFA executive committee member for 18 years until May - including for its 2010 vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups - and has faced multiple allegations of wrongdoing.

The 64-year-old, who has dominated football in Thailand for years, was found guilty in July by a Thai court of forgery in his reelection as head of the Football Association of Thailand.

But he has so far faced down his critics despite the numerous court cases against him.

In October, he told AFP he would fight to clear his name, insisting: "I am not guilty of anything."

FIFA has since last May be rocked to its core by a cascade of corruption charges and arrests that culminated with the implication of FIFA's longtime president Sepp Blatter and the man who had been expected to succeed him, UEFA chief Michel Platini.

The two were in December banned from football for eight years and slapped with heavy fines over a suspect $2-million payment.

On Saturday, the adjudicatory chamber said it had provided the pair with the reasoning behind its decision, clearing the way for them to appeal.
SourcE: AFP