The Malta FA’s decision to bide its time before declaring which candidate they intend to back in the FIFA presidential election has been vindicated by last week’s dramatic events, Bjorn Vassallo, the MFA general secretary told reporters yesterday.

Last Friday, the Swiss prosecutors announced that outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter is being investigated on suspicion of criminal mismanagement.

The attorney general’s office said Blatter was suspected of signing a contract that was “unfavourable to FIFA” and of making a “disloyal payment” of €1.8 million to UEFA head Michel Platini in 2011 for work carried out between 1999 and 2002.

News that Platini has been asked to provide information about the payment he received from Blatter for work performed almost 10 years earlier, inevitably sent shockwaves through European football and cast a shadow over his bid to succeed Blatter at the February 26 election.

“We have had no official contact,” Vassallo replied when asked whether the Malta FA had been sounded out by UEFA or FIFA officials in the aftermath of Friday’s events.

“Obviously, we know what’s going on and, in this context, we believe that our decision to wait before nominating a candidate for the FIFA presidential election was correct.

“The nominations close on October 26 and, at present, we are monitoring the events.

“This is not an easy situation for UEFA and all the associations.

“I don’t think anyone was surprised by the news that Sepp Blatter is under investigation because the contract he had signed with Jack Warner was public knowledge but we were surprised by the claim that Platini was paid for work carried out 10 years earlier.

“Platini has vowed to clear his name and we must wait and see.

“What is certain is that there’s a massive vacuum at FIFA.”

At the last FIFA Congress, the Malta FA nominated Prince Ali for the FIFA presidential election as the Jordanian FA chief also enjoyed the support of several European associations. Having lost to Blatter in May, Prince Ali has rejoined the race after Blatter announced his intention to resign when a new FIFA president is elected.

Asked whether the Malta FA may refrain from nominating a candidate for February’s vote, Vassallo replied: “That is a possibility.

“At the last FIFA Congress, we took a stand against Blatter and supported his sole challenger, Prince Ali.

“However, the number of votes received by Blatter at the last election spoke of indifference from many federations towards allegations of corruption and, to this end, the new FIFA president must be very firm.”

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