Blatter must leave FIFA apartment by February

Zurich - FIFA has told its banned leader Sepp Blatter he will have to leave his presidential apartment by February 26 when a successor is elected, a source close to the world body said on Tuesday.

The apartment in an old Zurich house that has been divided is one of the perks Blatter, 79, will lose after his eight year suspension pronounced on Monday by FIFA's ethics court.

He automatically loses his FIFA mobile phone and his professional email address, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But the disgraced FIFA leader, found guilty of a conflict of interest over a two million Swiss franc payment to FIFA vice president Michel Platini does not lose all privileges, the source said.

"He is still protected by his labour contract" under Swiss law, said the source.

So Blatter will get his salary -- for which he has refused to reveal the amount -- his FIFA car and apartment until the contract ends on February 26.

A FIFA congress is to be held on that day to elect a new president and agree reforms to the scandal-tainted body.