Hayatou takes over FIFA reins

President of Africa's football confederation (CAF) ,Issa Hayatou, has taken over as FIFA president on an interim basis following the suspension of Sepp Blatter.

Blatter, UEFA President Michel Platini and FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke  have all been handed 90-day provisional bans, extendable by 45 days, by FIFA's Ethics Committee on Thursday.

Hayatou ,69, has since announced that he has been appointed as interim President and revealed that a new president will be chosen next year - adding that he will not enter the race to fill the void left by Blatter.

The Cameroon born Hayatou relseasd the following statement via FIFA.com:

Today, amid extraordinary circumstances, I have assumed the office of FIFA President pursuant to Article 32 (6) of the FIFA Statutes. I will serve only on an interim basis. A new President will be chosen by the Extraordinary Congress on 26 February 2016. I myself will not be a candidate for that position.

Until the Extraordinary Congress, I pledge that I will dedicate my best efforts to the organisation, the member associations, our employees, our valued partners, and football fans everywhere. FIFA remains committed to the reform process, which is critical to reclaiming public trust. We will also continue to cooperate fully with authorities and follow the internal investigation wherever it leads.

Football has never enjoyed greater support throughout the world, and that is something everyone associated with FIFA should be proud of.