Blatter to make first comments since clearance

By Brian Homewood

ZURICH (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter will make his first public comments Monday since being cleared of any wrongdoing by an ethics investigation the previous day.

Blatter is now set to be re-elected for a fourth term at the annual Congress Wednesday and although he is in the clear, FIFA itself is still engulfed in controversy.

Sunday, former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam was provisionally suspended along with fellow executive committee member Jack Warner for allegedly trying to bribe Caribbean delegates earlier this month to vote for the Qatari.

Bin Hammam had withdrawn from the race Sunday morning, having previously brought Blatter into the investigation by complaining that the Swiss knew about payments but did nothing to stop them.

FIFA said in a statement that 75-year-old Blatter would face a media conference at 12 p.m. EDT following the end of an executive committee meeting.

He is certain to face questions about a letter which Warner alleged was sent to him by FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke appearing to cast doubt on Bin Hammam's motives for standing against Blatter in next week's election.

Valcke also allegedly wrote that Qatar had "bought" the 2022 World Cup.

Warner, who is expected to learn his fate in July when FIFA's ethics committee completes its investigation, said the hearing had been pre-meditated.

"Blatter has to be stopped," he said of his former long-term ally adding that at a CONCACAF Congress in Miami in May, Blatter had offered $1 million to delegates.

(Editing by John O'Brien)