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Sepp Blatter Set to Speak as Election Nears Sepp Blatter Speaks for First Time, and Says FIFA Must Police Itself
(35 minutes later)
Sepp Blatter was set to make his final arguments for re-election as president of FIFA on Thursday, one day after several of his top lieutenants were arrested in a corruption investigation led by the United States Justice Department. Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, made his first public comments since a corruption scandal shook his organization this week, telling FIFA’s annual congress on Thursday that FIFA must police itself.
Mr. Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term as FIFA president, was scheduled to speak at the opening of the FIFA Congress in Zurich. It will be his first public comments since the Swiss police — at the request of American authorities — arrested a group of senior soccer officials at their hotel early Wednesday. “We cannot allow the reputation of FIFA to be dragged through the mud any longer,” Mr. Blatter said. “It has to stop here and now.”
The remarks will also give Mr. Blatter one last public chance to make the case for himself. He is expected to recount his achievements in office, but also repeat his oft-stated claim that only he is best equipped to lead FIFA out of its current crisis. He added: “The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football, and over this week’s Congress. The actions of individuals, if proven, bring shame and humiliation on football and demand reaction from us all.”
His only challenger is Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, a younger, reform-minded member of FIFA’s executive committee. Blatter, 79, won the FIFA presidency in 1998 and is widely expected to retain it in Friday’s vote despite an ethical crisis that has shaken soccer’s world governing body this week. Mr. Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term as FIFA president, spoke at the opening of the FIFA Congress in Zurich, his first public comments since the Swiss police — at the request of American authorities — arrested a group of senior soccer officials at their hotel early Wednesday. But the remarks also gave Blatter one last public chance to make the case for himself as he runs for re-election for a fifth term as president.
Mr. Blatter did not address Friday’s presidential election directly in his speech, but he indirectly made the case that he should be the one to lead FIFA out of its current crisis. His only challenger is Price Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, a younger, reform-minded member of FIFA’s executive committee.
Mr. Blatter also seemed to absolve himself of blame for FIFA’s latest scandal, in which he was not charged or accused by the authorities.
“I know a lot of people hold me responsible for the actions and reputations of the global football community, whether it is the decision of hosting a World Cup or a corruption scandal,” he said.
“We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it. But it must also fall to me to be responsible for the reputation of our entire organization, and to find a way to fix things.
“I will not allow the actions of a few to damage the reputation of FIFA.”
Mr. Blatter pledged FIFA’s cooperation with any law enforcement authorities, including, presumably, the Department of Justice operation in the United States that became public on Wednesday and a separate inquiry by Swiss authorities looking into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
“There can be no place for corruption of any kind,” Mr. Blatter said. “The next few months will not be easy for FIFA. I’m sure more bad news may follow. But it is necessary to begin to restore trust in our organization. Let this be the turning point.”
Blatter, 79, won the FIFA presidency in 1998 and is widely expected to retain it in Friday’s vote despite an ethical crisis that has shaken soccer’s world governing body this week.
The scandal has not changed the strange electoral math of FIFA; European federations, representing the wealthiest leagues and the players who drive the world’s game, continue to oppose Mr. Blatter, as they did before this week’s arrests. Those in Africa, Asia and South America remain his biggest supporters despite persistent revelations of corruption inside the organization. Both the African and Asian federations reiterated their support for him on Thursday.The scandal has not changed the strange electoral math of FIFA; European federations, representing the wealthiest leagues and the players who drive the world’s game, continue to oppose Mr. Blatter, as they did before this week’s arrests. Those in Africa, Asia and South America remain his biggest supporters despite persistent revelations of corruption inside the organization. Both the African and Asian federations reiterated their support for him on Thursday.
Michel Platini, the president of Europe’s confederation, UEFA, said Thursday that 45 to 46 of its 53 members would vote for Prince Ali.Michel Platini, the president of Europe’s confederation, UEFA, said Thursday that 45 to 46 of its 53 members would vote for Prince Ali.
But Mr. Blatter is surely counting on the election’s rules to preserve his power. FIFA’s president is elected by a one-country, one-vote system among its 209 member associations. That has allowed Mr. Blatter to use his popularity and relationships cultivated over 40 years at FIFA and his ability to deliver millions of dollars in development money as an effective counterweight to his unpopularity in Europe.But Mr. Blatter is surely counting on the election’s rules to preserve his power. FIFA’s president is elected by a one-country, one-vote system among its 209 member associations. That has allowed Mr. Blatter to use his popularity and relationships cultivated over 40 years at FIFA and his ability to deliver millions of dollars in development money as an effective counterweight to his unpopularity in Europe.
After leading an emergency meeting earlier in the day with representatives from FIFA’s six regional confederations, Mr. Blatter rebuffed a call from Mr. Platini, Europe’s top soccer official, to step down.After leading an emergency meeting earlier in the day with representatives from FIFA’s six regional confederations, Mr. Blatter rebuffed a call from Mr. Platini, Europe’s top soccer official, to step down.
Mr. Platini insisted he believed that Mr. Blatter could be defeated after being engulfed by the scandal. “Before what happened yesterday, no,” Mr. Platini told reporters. “But after what happened recently, I think enough is enough and a number of people think likewise. There is a radical change in the mind-set of a number of heads of associations.”Mr. Platini insisted he believed that Mr. Blatter could be defeated after being engulfed by the scandal. “Before what happened yesterday, no,” Mr. Platini told reporters. “But after what happened recently, I think enough is enough and a number of people think likewise. There is a radical change in the mind-set of a number of heads of associations.”
Mr. Platini said Prince Ali was qualified to be president, and he seemed to suggest that he had the added virtue of being resistant to corruption. “Prince Ali has all the qualities to be president,” he said. “He is young, he is ambitious, he is a man who can do well. He doesn’t need money; he is a prince.”Mr. Platini said Prince Ali was qualified to be president, and he seemed to suggest that he had the added virtue of being resistant to corruption. “Prince Ali has all the qualities to be president,” he said. “He is young, he is ambitious, he is a man who can do well. He doesn’t need money; he is a prince.”
Mr. Blatter was not among the 14 men indicted in the inquiry. In his career, he has always managed to stay above the fray, even as accusations of corruption swirled around the organization that he leads.Mr. Blatter was not among the 14 men indicted in the inquiry. In his career, he has always managed to stay above the fray, even as accusations of corruption swirled around the organization that he leads.
On Thursday, the fallout from the scandal continued to reverberate as soccer federations, sponsors and national governments responded to the investigation, and Mr. Blatter’s opponents and supporters jockeyed for position.On Thursday, the fallout from the scandal continued to reverberate as soccer federations, sponsors and national governments responded to the investigation, and Mr. Blatter’s opponents and supporters jockeyed for position.
“President Blatter apologizes for not being able to come today because of the turbulences you have heard about,” said FIFA’s chief medical officer, Michel D’Hooghe of Belgium, Reuters reported, after Mr. Blatter declined to make a previously scheduled appearance at a medical conference on Thursday.“President Blatter apologizes for not being able to come today because of the turbulences you have heard about,” said FIFA’s chief medical officer, Michel D’Hooghe of Belgium, Reuters reported, after Mr. Blatter declined to make a previously scheduled appearance at a medical conference on Thursday.
The Asian Football Confederation said on Thursday that it “reiterates its decision” to support Blatter’s candidacy and called for the election to proceed, and it was joined later in the day by the CAF, the governing body of African football, which said in a statement that it was opposed to any postponement.The Asian Football Confederation said on Thursday that it “reiterates its decision” to support Blatter’s candidacy and called for the election to proceed, and it was joined later in the day by the CAF, the governing body of African football, which said in a statement that it was opposed to any postponement.
UEFA has characterized the arrests and investigation as a “disaster” for FIFA that has tarnished the image of soccer.UEFA has characterized the arrests and investigation as a “disaster” for FIFA that has tarnished the image of soccer.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia entered the debate on Thursday, accusing the United States of intervening outside its jurisdiction by pursuing the case against senior FIFA officials, who he noted are not American citizens. The Russian president said that he supported Mr. Blatter’s approach to running global soccer and that the American investigation appeared to be a blatant attempt to stifle Mr. Blatter’s re-election.President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia entered the debate on Thursday, accusing the United States of intervening outside its jurisdiction by pursuing the case against senior FIFA officials, who he noted are not American citizens. The Russian president said that he supported Mr. Blatter’s approach to running global soccer and that the American investigation appeared to be a blatant attempt to stifle Mr. Blatter’s re-election.
Alluding to the former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden, who has sought asylum in Russia, and to the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the Russian president said the arrests constituted “another blatant attempt by the United States to extend its jurisdiction to other states.”Alluding to the former National Security Agency contractor Edward J. Snowden, who has sought asylum in Russia, and to the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the Russian president said the arrests constituted “another blatant attempt by the United States to extend its jurisdiction to other states.”
FIFA sponsors, including Adidas, Coca-Cola and Visa, are calling for soccer’s governing body to change the way it operates, and on Thursday, a World Cup sponsor, Hyundai Motor, also registered its disapproval. The South Korean company said it was “extremely concerned” by the corruption charges.FIFA sponsors, including Adidas, Coca-Cola and Visa, are calling for soccer’s governing body to change the way it operates, and on Thursday, a World Cup sponsor, Hyundai Motor, also registered its disapproval. The South Korean company said it was “extremely concerned” by the corruption charges.
Mr. Blatter has been at FIFA for 40 years, the past 17 of them as president. Although he has been praised for extending soccer’s global reach, he has also been criticized for an authoritarian style and for fostering an opaque institutional culture that some critics say allowed corruption to thrive.Mr. Blatter has been at FIFA for 40 years, the past 17 of them as president. Although he has been praised for extending soccer’s global reach, he has also been criticized for an authoritarian style and for fostering an opaque institutional culture that some critics say allowed corruption to thrive.
South Africa denied any wrongdoing on Thursday after it was reported that the American indictment suggested that a $10 million bribe had helped the country be named host for the 2010 World Cup. Federal prosecutors have accused Jack Warner, a committee member from Trinidad and Tobago and a former FIFA vice president, of offering his vote to the highest bidder, and then using much of the $10 million payout from South Africa for personal use.South Africa denied any wrongdoing on Thursday after it was reported that the American indictment suggested that a $10 million bribe had helped the country be named host for the 2010 World Cup. Federal prosecutors have accused Jack Warner, a committee member from Trinidad and Tobago and a former FIFA vice president, of offering his vote to the highest bidder, and then using much of the $10 million payout from South Africa for personal use.
South Africa’s sports minister, Fikile Mbalula, was quoted by Reuters as saying that the government had yet to receive an indictment from American prosecutors that included a link to South Africans. The minister also said that the 2010 World Cup funds had been accounted for and audited and that “no such amount has been found,” according to Reuters.South Africa’s sports minister, Fikile Mbalula, was quoted by Reuters as saying that the government had yet to receive an indictment from American prosecutors that included a link to South Africans. The minister also said that the 2010 World Cup funds had been accounted for and audited and that “no such amount has been found,” according to Reuters.
According to the indictment, when FIFA was considering which country should host the 2010 World Cup, Mr. Warner sent a relative to a Paris hotel room to collect a briefcase filled with cash in $10,000 stacks from a committee official for the South African bid.According to the indictment, when FIFA was considering which country should host the 2010 World Cup, Mr. Warner sent a relative to a Paris hotel room to collect a briefcase filled with cash in $10,000 stacks from a committee official for the South African bid.