ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) — FIFA President Sepp Blatter was preparing to speak publicly today for the first time since two senior executives of world football’s ruling body were suspended in a bribery scandal.

On an extraordinary day in the organisation’s 107-year history, Mohamed bin Hammam and Jack Warner were barred yesterday by an ethics committee from all FIFA business pending a full inquiry into allegations Caribbean football leaders were paid US$40,000 each to back the Qatari’s now-abandoned presidential bid.

Blatter will hold a news conference later today for the first time since the ethics rulings, which cleared him of ignoring the bribery plan. Blatter will speak following a meeting of his executive committee, which is now reduced to 22 members without bin Hammam and Warner, who have a combined 43 years’ service at FIFA’s high table.

Warner meanwhile told British broadcaster Sky he would consult a Swiss judge about the legality of his suspension, even though FIFA statutes prohibit football officials seeking verdicts at a national court.

Warner’s 35-nation North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) regional body was meeting this morning planning a future without its president of 21 years.

Whistleblowers and suspected bribe-takers gathered together as FIFA seeks more evidence in the next 30 days for the inquiry.

FIFA’s gravest corruption crisis was sparked by a file of evidence submitted by Chuck Blazer, the American general secretary of CONCACAF and a longtime FIFA executive panel member.

Blazer told The Associated Press yesterday there was “much more evidence” to come detailing what happened when bin Hammam and Warner arranged a May 10-11 election trip to meet 25 Caribbean Football Union members in Warner’s native Trinidad.

“We have to get those confessions from those that may have done so,” said Blazer, referring to his belief that some officials have not admitted taking bribes.

The lawyer who compiled the evidence file, former United States federal prosecutor John Collins, believes more witnesses will come forward.

“My hope is that they will self-report. If they don’t, they will be discovered in the investigation,” Collins told The AP.

CONCACAF members will be updated on the FIFA investigation by the world body’s secretary general Jerome Valcke. He announced Sunday that the Puerto Rico federation sent him an email confirming it had received US$40,000 but had brought a check to Switzerland to return the money.

Blazer described Bahamas football president Anton Sealey, who first raised the alarm at possible bribery, as “a brave guy.”

Cash bundles were reportedly offered to CFU members after bin Hammam made an election pitch at a Port of Spain hotel. Bin Hammam and Warner deny the allegations.

“As much as I’d like to take credit for being the initiator of this, what I was, was the recipient of the information,” Blazer said, calling Sealey a “respected member and a longtime friend.”