FIFA sacks communications director Cooper

Keith Cooper became the first high profile casualty of Sepp Blatter's re-organisation of FIFA when he was sacked after seven years as Director of Communications on Tuesday.

Cooper, 55, said: "I have been sacked without a reason being given today. I have known Sepp Blatter for 30 years but was told that I was being dismissed by Urs Linsi, the acting General Secretary.

"No reason was given, which under Swiss law FIFA have the right to do," he said.

"However, this is something of a surprise coming less than two weeks after the end of a World Cup in which the media organisation was regarded as one of the best of its kind -- especially bearing in mind the problems created by having the World Cup in two countries."

Blatter, who was elected president with a hugely increased overall majority just before the start of the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan, sacked General Secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen within two days of his election victory at the Congress -- and has now sacked the man who was known the world over as the mouthpiece of FIFA.

Two days before the end of the World Cup on June 30 Blatter said he wanted 100 days to re-organise the administration of world soccer's governing body and is clearly wasting no time in his attempt to do that.

Cooper was due to take his annual leave in the United States beginning on Wednesday, but will not be returning to FIFA House in Zurich.