Interpol put two top former FIFA officials on its “red notice” wanted list at the request of U.S. authorities on Wednesday as their investigation into corruption at football’s governing body gathered pace.

South Africa confirmed it had given $10 million (7 million pounds) meant to help pay for the 2010 World Cup to a football official indicted last week in the United States, but said the payment was not a bribe as U.S. prosecutors allege.

The latest developments in the scandal engulfing FIFA came a day after Sepp Blatter stunned international football by resigning as the world body’s president shortly before it emerged that he too was under investigation by U.S. law enforcement. Blatter was not on Interpol’s list.

A source close to FIFA said it was Blatter’s advisers who had told him he must reverse course and quit. Critics pointed to the widening criminal probe, disquiet among sponsors, and pressure from European football body UEFA as possible reasons.

With Blatter saying he no longer had the mandate he sought, UEFA postponed a meeting due on Saturday where there might have been talk of a revolt against FIFA.

UEFA had opposed Blatter, and Michel Platini, the UEFA president who is favourite to succeed the 79-year-old Swiss national, had urged him not to stand for re-election as FIFA faced the worst crisis in its 111-year history.

“Considering new information is revealed every day, I believe it is wiser to take time to assess the situation, so together we can take a position on this issue,” Platini, a former French football star, said.

As the FIFA crisis unfolds, Interpol, the international police body, issued wanted person alerts for Jack Warner, a former president of CONCACAF, which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, and Nicolas Leoz, the former head of South America’s football federation.

The others subject to the so-called “red notices” — which are not arrest warrants — are Alejandro Burzaco, Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, and Jose Margulies, a Brazilian who headed two offshore companies that were involved in broadcasting football matches.

They are among football officials and sports media and promotion executives facing U.S. corruption charges involving more than $150 million in bribes.

BRIBE DENIED

FIFA has denied that another senior official, Secretary General Jerome Valcke, was involved in a $10 million payment approved by the South African Football Association that lies at the heart of the U.S. investigation.

At a news conference in Johannesburg, sports minister Fikile Mbalula denied the payment to Warner during South Africa’s successful bid for the 2010 World Cup was a bribe. Mbalula said South Africa had not bought votes for the right to host the cup, and the cash was intended for football development in the Caribbean, Warner’s home region.

U.S. legal authorities last week announced they are investigating alleged bribery and corruption at FIFA going back 24 years and Swiss prosecutors announced a criminal investigation into the award of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.

The Kremlin said Russia was surprised by Blatter’s resignation but was pressing on with preparations for 2018.

Blatter, who has led FIFA for 17 years, is being investigated by U.S. prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a person who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, on a visit to Latvia, declined to comment on whether Blatter is under investigation.

Blatter has not been charged and FIFA did not respond to a request for comment on his being under investigation.

Reuters.

Placide KayitareHUMAN RIGHTSLATEST NEWSInterpol put two top former FIFA officials on its 'red notice' wanted list at the request of U.S. authorities on Wednesday as their investigation into corruption at football's governing body gathered pace. South Africa confirmed it had given $10 million (7 million pounds) meant to help pay for the 2010...PUBLISHING YOUR NEWS WITH CUTTING EDGE STYLE