FIFA: Issa Hayatou promises reformation

After the suspension of Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA (FIFA) for 90 days, Issa Hayatou became the interim president on Thursday, 8 October.

It was a pride for the president of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), but also a heavy responsibility.

"It was not given to anyone, I'm happy and I will do everything to be up to the task," he told Radio France Internationale (Rfi), the night of his appointment. He also said he is "obliged to occupy this function," and the 69-year-old Cameroonian is determined to carry out reforms.

"A committee is hard at work and we ourselves will follow the reforms it will introduce," he says. He will make a presentation to the Congress on February 26. "This will affect, for example, term limits and age limits for officials. They will help to bring credibility. And perhaps new people will emerge, no one knows."

"Platini may well manage Fifa."

According to him, the interim president should not be surprised to see other people being suspended. "The President and General Secretary of FIFA were suspended. So anyone could be suspended. No one would be scot free. There are legal actions to 'clean' FIFA. If this is to continue, there is no problem," he said before ensuring that all four personalities suspended last Thursday can appeal and may win the case, especially Michel Platini.

He may well manage Fifa tomorrow if justice proves his innocence. "And if his name is often mentioned by some tabloids since the beginning of the scandal last May," the boss of African football reassured: "I have never been involved in these stories."

He added, "Personally, I do not blame myself. Qatar is said to corrupt me, but all this stories are imputed to me because I'm African. These are allegations that I do not value. I have no remorse, no concern."

CAF will meet in the coming days to find an interim vice, during the time he will be head of FIFA.