UEFA give FIFA's Blatter ultimatum over ISL collapse

UEFA president Lennart Johansson called for FIFA president Sepp Blatter to explain the collapse of FIFA's marketing agent ISL or face the consequences, which could lead to his removal as head of the world governing body.

After a much-longer than expected UEFA Executive Committee meeting, Johansson said his executive wanted Blatter to provide a full and complete explanation on all issues relating to the bankruptcy of ISL.

They also want him to explain the cancellation of the World Club Championship in Spain in July and August, the financing of the Confederations Cup which starts next week in Japan and South Korea, and the role played in these matters by Blatter and the FIFA administration.

Johansson was asked whether he would call for a vote of no confidence in the FIFA president, or ask him to stand down if he did not meet these demands.

"Those would be the two alternatives," he said. "Should that be the truth, it is the end of the story."

Johansson, who stood against Blatter in the FIFA presidential election in 1998, stopped short of saying he would instigate a vote of no confidence at FIFA's Extraordinary Congress in Buenos Aires on July 7.

"That is not a fair question, but we do want an answer from him very quickly on these counts," he said.

ISL, FIFA's marketing partner for more than 20 years, was declared bankrupt by a Swiss court last week with reported debts of around one billion Swiss francs ($500 million).