Fifa admits Hayatou error in Olympic role confusion

(GETTY IMAGES)

In a bizarre turn of events, Fifa last night denied that Issa Hayatou, currently the subject of an International Olympic Committee corruption investigation, had been appointed to oversee next year's Olympic football tournament. The world governing body blamed a "technical error" on its website for an earlier announcement that suggested Hayatou had been installed as chair of the organising committee for the 2012 Games in London.

On Tuesday, CAF, the African confederation headed by Hayatou, who is also a member of the IOC and Fifa's executive committee, published news of his appointment via its website. On the same day Fifa sent an email to the World Football Insider website appearing to confirm the move, only for a statement to appear on Fifa's website last night claiming no such decision had been reached.

It said: "Due to a technical error, appointments for Fifa standing committees have appeared on the Fifa website. The appointments for the chairman and deputy chairman of the Fifa standing committees will be communicated in due course.

"Therefore, Issa Hayatou has not been appointed as chairman of the organising committee for the Olympic Football Tournaments."

It has been suggested that Fifa was unaware the IOC investigation into Hayatou was ongoing and it is a further blow to the body's already battered reputation.