Sepp Blatter expects to attend the FIFA election on Feb. 26 even though his appeal against an eight-year ban is unlikely to be resolved by then.

Blatter's spokesman, Thomas Renggli, tells The Associated Press that Blatter "should be present at the Congress."

Renggli says Blatter will return to FIFA on Feb. 16 for an appeal committee hearing, and an immediate ruling is expected.

If the appeal panel confirms Blatter's ban, it could take weeks to write the detailed verdict he needs to file an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Renggli says.

FIFA's ethics committee banned Blatter last month for conflict of interest in approving $2 million for Michel Platini in 2011.

Despite the ban, Renggli says "only the Congress, according to the statutes, can put Mr. Blatter out of his mandate."