Monday 1 June 2015 22:13, UK
Sepp Blatter will visit the United States to attend next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, FIFA has confirmed.
Blatter was elected for a fifth term as FIFA’s president last week, just two days after seven FIFA officials and associates were arrested as the organisation gathered for their congress in Zurich.
The on-going FBI investigation has also seen another seven people indicted on charges of bribery, racketeering and money-laundering, involving tens of millions of dollars since 1991.
Blatter, who has not been indicted and claimed the corruption crisis was designed to unseat him, has insisted he is the right man to lead FIFA.
UEFA chief Michel Platini, FA chairman Greg Dyke and PM David Cameron are just some of the prominent figures who have called for Batter to step down.
Before last week’s events the 79-year-old denied he was avoiding the United States amid reports of an FBI investigation into the former CONCACAF leaders.
However, Sky Sports News HQ chief news reporter Bryan Swanson revealed Blatter is planning to attend the tournament which kicks off on July 7 in Dallas.
Swanson tweeted: “FIFA confirms to #SSNHQ that Sepp Blatter intends to travel to USA next month for CONCACAF Gold Cup.”
FIFA, meanwhile, also confirmed secretary general Jerome Valcke will miss Saturday's FIFA's women's World Cup opener because of the on-going corruption scandal.
"Due to the current situation, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke will not be attending the opening of the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 as previously scheduled," FIFA said in a statement.
"It is important that he attends to matters at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich."
Earlier on Monday, FIFA provisionally suspended CONCACAF general secretary Enrique Sanz and two Congolese officials from carrying out any football-related activities.
CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb and his associate Costas Takkas were among the seven officials arrested in Switzerland last week.
