ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) – Former FIFA secretary-general Michel Zen Ruffinen has been asked to stand for the presidency of soccer’s governing body and is studying the situation, he said yesterday. “I am simply studying the situation, following some requests that I have received to (be a) candidate for the position,” the Swiss told Reuters. “I will monitor the situation, see how it develops in the next days and check the feasibility (to see) if it makes sense.”
Zen Ruffinen, a former referee, did not say who had suggested he stand. He served as FIFA’s secretary general from 1998 to 2002.
FIFA is due to choose a successor to Sepp Blatter at an extraordinary Congress on February 26.
Embroiled in a corruption scandal, Blatter was suspended for 90 days by FIFA’s ethics committee on Thursday along with UEFA president Michel Platini, pending a full investigation. Until recently, Platini had been the favourite to replace Blatter.