FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been provisionally suspended by the organisation's ethics committee, according to reports this evening.
Klaus Stoehlker, who has advised Blatter in the past, says the committee made the ruling pending further investigations by the Swiss attorney general.
He described it as a "pending" verdict, and said no negative finding had been made against the head of world football's governing body.
The announcement comes just hours after Blatter criticised the criminal investigation against him in Switzerland, describing it as "outrageous".
He also defended his decision to remain as head of the football organising body and not step down immediately, as worldwide sponsors have urged.
Sky News' sports correspondent Paul Kelso says the 90-day suspension is the longest FIFA's ethics committee can hand down while they carry out their investigation.
Blatter is suspected of "criminal mismanagement or misappropriation" and his office has been searched.
The allegations relate to suspicion over a "disloyal payment" of €2m Swiss francs (£1.3m) to UEFA president Michel Platini.
The payment was "allegedly made for work performed between January 1999 and June 2002".
Mr Platini said the payment "relates to work which I carried out under a contract" and he "was pleased to have been able to clarify all matters" to the authorities. The Frenchman is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Kelso says the suspension is "very, very significant news", adding: "It could very well be the end of Sepp Blatter's 17 rocky years in power."
More to follow...
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
