Embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter will not be attending the final of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday in Canada, his US-based lawyer told Reuters on Tuesday, citing “personal reasons.”
Specifics for Blatter’s absence were not given. Some lawyers with backgrounds in international law have told the media that Blatter would be ill-advised to travel after indictments for nine current and former FIFA officials and five sports marketing businessmen were announced by US prosecutors in late May.
US officials have not accused the Swiss national Blatter of any wrongdoing, but soccer’s world governing body remains under scrutiny, according to many reports.
Blatter announced on June 2 that he would "lay down his mandate" for a new election to take place later this year or early next year, although he seemed to backtrack on those comments in a speech he delivered at the FIFA museum last week.
FIFA said in a statement that secretary general Jérôme Valcke also would not travel to Canada.
"Due to their current commitments in Zurich, the FIFA president and the FIFA secretary general will remain at the FIFA Headquarters," the statement said.
It will mark the first time Blatter has not presented the trophy to the winners of the women's competition since he became FIFA president in 1998.
Blatter’s lawyer, Richard Cullen, said that FIFA senior vice President Issa Hayatou of Cameroon would preside at the trophy ceremony after the final in Vancouver instead.
