From corruption investigations in the United States and Switzerland

to the sudden suspension of his right-hand man, FIFA chief Sepp Blatter

can expect a barrage of questions when he faces the media on Friday.

Blatter’s press conference, his first appearance since the removal of

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, will follow a two-day executive

committee meeting where the seemingly-endless scandals at world

football’s sleaze-tainted governing body are on the agenda.

Since the executive committee last met, much of the news surrounding FIFA has been less than positive.

On Wednesday, the Swiss justice ministry approved the extradition to

the US of Rafael Esquivel, a Venezuelan ex-FIFA official who was among

those arrested in a dawn raid in Zurich in May.

Switzerland has also approved the transfer to US jurisdiction of

former FIFA vice-president Eugenio Figueredo, a Uruguayan, with

extradition decisions on four other suspects due in the coming days.

Last week also saw Valcke’s sacking on allegations that he

participated in a massive black market ticket-selling scheme surrounding

the 2014 World Cup.

Valcke fiercely denies the allegations and has vowed to fight them.

Three days before Valcke was dismissed, US Attorney General Loretta

Lynch said her sweeping investigation into decades of graft at FIFA was

expanding and was likely to lead to more people being charged.

It was Lynch who uncorked the crisis at FIFA in May, when her office

unsealed indictments against 14 people – nine football officials and

five sports marketing executives – accused of involvement in a bribery

scandal worth more than $150 million dollars (134 million euros) since

1991.

Speaking next to Lynch in Zurich last week, Swiss Attorney General

Michael Lauber said his separate probe into the bidding process for the

2018 and 2022 World Cups had led to assets being seized, including flats

in the Swiss Alps.

Lauber has not given any indication as to who may be charged in the

Swiss inquiry, but FIFA officials have conceded that if there is clear

evidence that bribes were paid during the bidding, both Russia and Qatar

could lose hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups,

respectively.

Lauber made clear that his investigation had “not yet reached half-time.”

Blatter’s press conference at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich is set

for 2pm (1200 GMT) Friday, following the executive committee meeting

which opens on Thursday afternoon.

The committee is expected to hear reports on a range of subjects,

including preparations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, but much of the

public attention is likely focused on two items.

They include the initial proposals from FIFA’s new reform committee,

which has, among other measures, floated the idea of term-limits for the

body’s president and greater financial transparency on compensation for

top officials.

The committee’s update on the US and Swiss investigations will also be closely watched.