FIFA election for Blatter's successor on Feb 26

FIFA will hold a special election on February 26 to replace president Sepp Blatter, football's scandal-tainted world body said today as French football great Michel Platini moved closer to launching a campaign.
The FIFA executive, including rivals Blatter and Platini, agreed the date at a meeting in Zurich where the "exraordinary elective FIFA congress" will be held.
Blatter announced on June 2, four days after winning a fifth term as president, that he would stand down as a major corruption storm hit world football's ruling body.
The decision was a victory for Blatter who had wanted the vote pushed back until 2016. UEFA and some other regional bodies had sought a December election.

Blatter was to announce at a later press conference whether the executive committee agreed to first reform measures for the multi-billion dollar body.
FIFA is still reeling from the arrest of seven officials at a Zurich congress two days before Blatter won reelection on May 29.

The seven are among 14 people -- soccer officials and sports business executives -- accused by US authorities over more than $150 million in bribes paid to secure television and marketing contracts for football tournaments.
Former FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb appeared in a New York court on Saturday after being extradited from Switzerland last week. He denied bribery charges but was only released on $10 million bail.

Swiss authorities are in parallel investigating the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.
- Candidates gather -
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Candidates for the FIFA presidency have until October 26 to put their names forward.
So far only Brazilian football great Zico has officially declared himself. But Platini is considered the favourite to take over if he decides to stand.
Platini will decide in the next two weeks whether to run, a source close to the UEFA leadership said.