Sepp Blatter's latest effort to keep hold of power at FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, has failed.<br />On Wednesday, FIFA announced that it had rejected appeals by Mr. Blatter, the organization's president, and Michel Platini, president of the European soccer confederation, challenging the 90-day suspensions imposed on them last month in the wake of reports about a financial transaction between the two men for which Mr. Blatter is under criminal investigation.<br />The decision means Mr. Blatter, who has led FIFA since 1998, remains forbidden to set foot in the organization's headquarters, a short walk from his apartment in Zurich, or to conduct any business related to the sport while an internal review of the transaction continues; that review is expected to conclude before the 90 days expire, in early January.
