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| Fifa corruption crisis: Sepp Blatter downplays US indictment | Fifa corruption crisis: Sepp Blatter downplays US indictment |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Re-elected Fifa president Sepp Blatter has sought to downplay the US criminal proceedings launched against officials of world football's governing body. | Re-elected Fifa president Sepp Blatter has sought to downplay the US criminal proceedings launched against officials of world football's governing body. |
| Seven officials and associates were arrested in Zurich on a US corruption indictment earlier this week, as Fifa gathered for its congress. | |
| Mr Blatter, 79, described the issue as "infractions" involving a marketing company operating in the Americas. | Mr Blatter, 79, described the issue as "infractions" involving a marketing company operating in the Americas. |
| "I don't see how Fifa should have been directly affected by this," he said. | "I don't see how Fifa should have been directly affected by this," he said. |
| Speaking at a news conference in the Swiss city, he again questioned the timing of the US prosecutors, saying his organisation "could have been contacted at another time" rather than just before its congress assembled. | Speaking at a news conference in the Swiss city, he again questioned the timing of the US prosecutors, saying his organisation "could have been contacted at another time" rather than just before its congress assembled. |
| Mr Blatter beat Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan in Friday's election, and is starting his fifth four-year term as president. | Mr Blatter beat Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan in Friday's election, and is starting his fifth four-year term as president. |
| Answering questions from reporters, he denied that he was the unnamed senior Fifa official who allegedly authorised the payment of a $10m bribe relating to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. | Answering questions from reporters, he denied that he was the unnamed senior Fifa official who allegedly authorised the payment of a $10m bribe relating to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. |
| US Department of Justice's indictment: | |
| Fifa corruption claims: Key questions answered | Fifa corruption claims: Key questions answered |
| How Fifa makes and spends its money | How Fifa makes and spends its money |
| Fifa scandal 'a disaster' for sponsors | Fifa scandal 'a disaster' for sponsors |
| Mr Blatter insisted that Fifa could move on from the crisis with him at the helm. | Mr Blatter insisted that Fifa could move on from the crisis with him at the helm. |
| "It's no longer a storm, it's less strong at the moment," he said, adding that 132 nations had expressed confidence in him in the presidential vote. "I will continue to struggle and fight for good things." | "It's no longer a storm, it's less strong at the moment," he said, adding that 132 nations had expressed confidence in him in the presidential vote. "I will continue to struggle and fight for good things." |
| In a sideswipe at European football's governing body Uefa, he criticised the body for not setting up an ethics committee along the lines of Fifa's own, to "set an example" to other, less wealthy and influential regional confederations. | In a sideswipe at European football's governing body Uefa, he criticised the body for not setting up an ethics committee along the lines of Fifa's own, to "set an example" to other, less wealthy and influential regional confederations. |
| Uefa's president Michel Platini had urged Mr Blatter to step down ahead of Friday's presidential vote, and Uefa strongly backed his rival for the post, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan. | Uefa's president Michel Platini had urged Mr Blatter to step down ahead of Friday's presidential vote, and Uefa strongly backed his rival for the post, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan. |
| Prince Ali forced a second round of voting but then withdrew. Mr Blatter won 133 to Prince Ali's 73 in the first round, just short of the 140 votes needed for an outright win. | Prince Ali forced a second round of voting but then withdrew. Mr Blatter won 133 to Prince Ali's 73 in the first round, just short of the 140 votes needed for an outright win. |
| Mr Blatter was widely supported in Africa and Asia, and his re-election was welcomed by the hosts of the next World Cup, Russia - with President Vladimir Putin sending Mr Blatter a telegram of congratulation on Saturday. | Mr Blatter was widely supported in Africa and Asia, and his re-election was welcomed by the hosts of the next World Cup, Russia - with President Vladimir Putin sending Mr Blatter a telegram of congratulation on Saturday. |
| Earlier, speaking to Swiss TV station RTS, Mr Blatter condemned what he described as a "hate" campaign against Fifa by European footballing nations. | Earlier, speaking to Swiss TV station RTS, Mr Blatter condemned what he described as a "hate" campaign against Fifa by European footballing nations. |
| And he said he was "shocked" by the comments of US prosecutors following the arrests of Fifa officials under an American anti-corruption warrant. One termed the case as "the World Cup of fraud" and said Fifa was being issued with a red card. | And he said he was "shocked" by the comments of US prosecutors following the arrests of Fifa officials under an American anti-corruption warrant. One termed the case as "the World Cup of fraud" and said Fifa was being issued with a red card. |
| Mr Blatter said he suspected the arrests were an attempt to "interfere with the congress" at which he was re-elected. "I am not certain, but it doesn't smell good," he said. | Mr Blatter said he suspected the arrests were an attempt to "interfere with the congress" at which he was re-elected. "I am not certain, but it doesn't smell good," he said. |
| He noted that the US had lost out in the bidding for the 2022 World Cup to Qatar while England, another major critic, had lost out to Russia for the right to hold the 2018 World Cup - and that the US was the "number-one sponsor" of the state of Jordan, the homeland of the defeated challenger for the Fifa presidency. | He noted that the US had lost out in the bidding for the 2022 World Cup to Qatar while England, another major critic, had lost out to Russia for the right to hold the 2018 World Cup - and that the US was the "number-one sponsor" of the state of Jordan, the homeland of the defeated challenger for the Fifa presidency. |
| Uefa's next move? | Uefa's next move? |
| On Wednesday, US prosecutors indicted 14 Fifa officials and associates, including the seven arrested in a dawn raid at an upmarket hotel in Zurich. They are accused of bribery, racketeering and money-laundering involving tens of millions of dollars since 1991. | On Wednesday, US prosecutors indicted 14 Fifa officials and associates, including the seven arrested in a dawn raid at an upmarket hotel in Zurich. They are accused of bribery, racketeering and money-laundering involving tens of millions of dollars since 1991. |
| Ahead of Mr Blatter's comments on Saturday, US tax official Richard Weber told The New York Times he was "fairly confident that we will have another round of indictments". | Ahead of Mr Blatter's comments on Saturday, US tax official Richard Weber told The New York Times he was "fairly confident that we will have another round of indictments". |
| Meanwhile, Swiss authorities have launched a separate criminal investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar. | Meanwhile, Swiss authorities have launched a separate criminal investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar. |
| European football associations will meet at next week's Champions League final in Berlin to discuss their next move. | European football associations will meet at next week's Champions League final in Berlin to discuss their next move. |
| Europe's seat at Saturday's meeting of Fifa's powerful executive committee was empty, as newly appointed representative David Gill confirmed he would not take up his post following Mr Blatter's re-election. | Europe's seat at Saturday's meeting of Fifa's powerful executive committee was empty, as newly appointed representative David Gill confirmed he would not take up his post following Mr Blatter's re-election. |
| Sepp Blatter in his own words: | Sepp Blatter in his own words: |
| "I am the president now, the president of everybody" - on his re-election for a fifth term in office | "I am the president now, the president of everybody" - on his re-election for a fifth term in office |
| "The unity of action and time, a classic tragedy of Greece in which we never know how it will end" - his description of football | "The unity of action and time, a classic tragedy of Greece in which we never know how it will end" - his description of football |
| "I'd say they should refrain from any sexual activities" - when asked if he foresaw any cultural problems for gay people at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (apparently this was a joke) | "I'd say they should refrain from any sexual activities" - when asked if he foresaw any cultural problems for gay people at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (apparently this was a joke) |
| "This is a special approach in the Anglo-Saxon countries. If this had happened in, let's say, Latin countries then I think he would have been applauded" - on John Terry's removal as England team captain following an alleged affair in 2010 | "This is a special approach in the Anglo-Saxon countries. If this had happened in, let's say, Latin countries then I think he would have been applauded" - on John Terry's removal as England team captain following an alleged affair in 2010 |
| "I could understand it if it had happened in Africa, but not in Italy" - on the 2006 match-fixing scandal in Italy | "I could understand it if it had happened in Africa, but not in Italy" - on the 2006 match-fixing scandal in Italy |
| "I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players, and putting them somewhere" - on Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2008 | "I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players, and putting them somewhere" - on Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2008 |
| "They could, for example, have tighter shorts. Female players are pretty, if you excuse me for saying so, and they already have some different rules to men - such as playing with a lighter ball. That decision was taken to create a more female aesthetic, so why not do it in fashion?" - on women's football, in 2004 | "They could, for example, have tighter shorts. Female players are pretty, if you excuse me for saying so, and they already have some different rules to men - such as playing with a lighter ball. That decision was taken to create a more female aesthetic, so why not do it in fashion?" - on women's football, in 2004 |