Key dates in FIFA corruption scandal

Ten key dates in the FIFA corruption scandal following the Court of Arbitration for Sport's rejection on Friday of Michel Platini's appeal against his 90-day suspension:

December 2, 2010: FIFA awards 2018 World Cup to Russia and 2022 tournament to Qatar. Two FIFA executive committee members were suspended before the ballot after Britain's Sunday Times newspaper reported they offered to sell their votes for cash.

May 6, 2013: FIFA's ethics committee suspends Chuck Blazer, the American former general secretary of CONCACAF, representing north and central America and the Caribbean. Blazer had by then been working undercover for US anti-corruption investigators for two years.

October 17, 2014: FIFA refuses to fully release the Garcia Report into alleged bribery and corruption during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids. Two months later, former US attorney Michael Garcia, the report's author, resigns as head of FIFA's investigatory body in protest at what he described as FIFA's "incomplete and erroneous" summary of his report.

May 27, 2015: Police raid a Zurich hotel on the eve of a FIFA congress and arrest seven officials, including two FIFA vice presidents. They are among 14 people wanted by US prosecutors over more than $150 million (137 million euros) of bribes, including claims of buying and selling votes for South Africa to get the 2010 World Cup.

May 29: Sepp Blatter is re-elected for a fifth term as FIFA president, beating Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan by 133 votes to 77 in the first round. The prince, a FIFA vice-president, then withdrew.

June 2: With the corruption storm raging, Blatter announces he will step down following a new election scheduled for February 26, 2016.

September 25: Switzerland opens criminal proceedings against Blatter on suspicion he misappropriated funds and made a "disloyal payment" of $2 million ($2 million/1.8 million euros) to UEFA head Michel Platini who had announced he would be a candidate to succeed Blatter.

October 8: FIFA's ethics watchdog suspends Blatter and Platini for 90 days because of the Swiss case. Platini's lawyers say later that FIFA wants him banned for life.

December 3: Two more "high-ranking" FIFA officials are detained at a luxury Zurich hotel on suspicion of taking kickbacks for selling football marketing rights in Latin America.

December 11: Platini loses his appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against his 90-day suspension, which is due to end on January 5, 2016.
Source: AFP