Sepp Blatter: under Swiss probe

Joseph Blatter must resign immediately as FIFA president because instant change is needed at the top of football’s ruling body, German Olympic supremo Alfons Hoermann told Wednesday’s edition of the Sport Bild weekly.

Swiss authorities last week launched a criminal investigation against Blatter in suspicion of mismanagement in connection with a (likely television rights) contract and a payment of 2 million Swiss francs to UEFA boss Michel Platini.

The FIFA ethics committee is looking into the matter while Blatter said on Monday that he has done nothing wrong and will stay on as president as planned until an extraordinary FIFA congress on Feb. 26.

But the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) president Hoermann joined those who said that Blatter cannot keep his job.

Alfons Hoermann: Blatter can’t keep his job

“I believe that immediate action is needed and an immediate change necessary at the top of FIFA,’’ Hoermann told Sport Bild.

Looking at Platini, Hoermann expects “quick, thorough and coherent reasons’’ why he received the payment in 2011 for FIFA work done between 1999 and 2002.’’

French sports minister Patrick Kanner also asked Platini to clear up the issue as he is a candidate to succeed Blatter.

“It is a great chance for FIFA if Platini becomes president. But I must also state that a new case has arisen,’’ Kanner told France Info radio on Wednesday.

“I recall that Mitchell Platini himself has asked to be interrogated by the FIFA ethics committee. And I hope that all accusations are removed in this interrogation.’’