ZURICH: Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter is still in hospital, 10 days after being admitted.

Blatter was taken ill the weekend before last and was advised to rest under observation for two weeks despite erroneous suggestions by his associate, Klaus Sholkher, that he had been in and out of care.

Stohkler, whose mischievously unreliable comments about Blatter have probably achieved more harm than good for the 79-year-old, now says: “He is in hospital, he is fully awake and he is smiling.”

Blatter added that Blatter intended to be ready for a appeal next Tuesday against the provisional suspension imposed last month by the FIFA ethics committee pending a full investigation into allegations of misconduct in office.

Blatter is also under formal criminal investigation by the Swiss authorites over allegations concerning an under-valued World Cup TV rights sale to former CONCACAF president Jack Warner and a SFr2m ‘disloyal payment’ to Michel Platini, the French head of European governing body UEFA.

An extraordinary FIFA Congress has been summoned for next February 26 to choose a presidential successor to Blatter.

# # #