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Sepp Blatter finally lets go of Fifa as FBI noose tightens Sepp Blatter finally lets go of Fifa as FBI noose tightens
(35 minutes later)
On Friday, Sepp Blatter stood before the 209 members of the “Fifa family” that have become his fiefdom and giddily beamed: “Let’s go Fifa! Let’s go!”On Friday, Sepp Blatter stood before the 209 members of the “Fifa family” that have become his fiefdom and giddily beamed: “Let’s go Fifa! Let’s go!”
Fewer than four days later he stood before a sparsely attended, hastily convened press conference in Fifa’s £150m HQ and gloomily announced he would step down, bringing down the curtain on four decades at world football’s scandal-hit governing body and 17 as president. Just a few days later, he stood before a sparsely attended, hastily convened press conference in Fifa’s £150m HQ and gloomily announced he would step down, bringing down the curtain on four decades at world football’s scandal-hit governing body and 17 as president.
Less than a week ago, Blatter was touring the meetings of the various confederations in Zurich and appeared supremely confident of victory in an election that he had promised never to contest. On Wednesday morning at 6am, his world came crashing down as Swiss police raided the Baur au Lac hotel.Less than a week ago, Blatter was touring the meetings of the various confederations in Zurich and appeared supremely confident of victory in an election that he had promised never to contest. On Wednesday morning at 6am, his world came crashing down as Swiss police raided the Baur au Lac hotel.
Related: Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president after 17 years in roleRelated: Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president after 17 years in role
Some of those close to him say that privately he was more concerned than he let on as rumours, fed by the networks of private investigators employed by Blatter and his rivals, swirled on the progress of the FBI investigation into alleged money laundering and tax evasion.Some of those close to him say that privately he was more concerned than he let on as rumours, fed by the networks of private investigators employed by Blatter and his rivals, swirled on the progress of the FBI investigation into alleged money laundering and tax evasion.
It is testament to his record of Machiavellian manoeuvring down the years that even as he delivered his shock resignation, senior figures in world football were starting to speculate on what his masterplan might be and whether he would work to shoehorn a favoured candidate into the role when he is replaced between December 2015 and March next year.It is testament to his record of Machiavellian manoeuvring down the years that even as he delivered his shock resignation, senior figures in world football were starting to speculate on what his masterplan might be and whether he would work to shoehorn a favoured candidate into the role when he is replaced between December 2015 and March next year.
His closest advisers insisted that there was no single silver bullet that precipitated a change in mood from his bullish, predictable attacks on the British media and the US justice system on Saturday to the contrite, diminished figure standing on the dais yesterday. His closest advisers insisted that there was no single silver bullet that precipitated a change in mood from his bullish, predictable attacks on the British media and the US justice system on Saturday to the contrite, diminished figure standing on the dais on Tuesday.
They said that he had simply spent the weekend since a combative post-election press conference, at which he was forced to deny that he handled a $10m (£6.5m) bribe, being told by those closest to him that the walls were closing in and it was time to go.They said that he had simply spent the weekend since a combative post-election press conference, at which he was forced to deny that he handled a $10m (£6.5m) bribe, being told by those closest to him that the walls were closing in and it was time to go.
In the face of a promise from US investigators that more indictments would follow and reading the scale and magnitude of the case being built up by the FBI and the US Justice Department, they say he finally listened. In the face of a promise from US investigators that more indictments would follow and reading the scale and magnitude of the case being built up by the FBI and the US justice department, they say he finally listened.
In particular, his daughter Corinne is believed to have encouraged him to stand down.In particular, his daughter Corinne is believed to have encouraged him to stand down.
Nor can he have been unaware of the fact that one by one, those closest to him over four decades at Fifa were being picked off. Nor can he have been unaware of the fact that those closest to him over four decades at Fifa were being picked off one by one.
But something about that picture doesn’t quite ring true. Blatter has long been addicted to the power and prestige afforded him by his job and terrified of life beyond it.But something about that picture doesn’t quite ring true. Blatter has long been addicted to the power and prestige afforded him by his job and terrified of life beyond it.
US investigators have been co-operating with Swiss prosecutors for months and Blatter is sure to have been in their sights. He must have felt the noose tightening. US investigators have been cooperating with Swiss prosecutors for months and Blatter is sure to have been in their sights. He must have felt the noose tightening.
Existing in a bubble of private jets, five-star hotels and the endless, meaningless babble of Fifa – handshakes for peace, Nobel Foundation initiatives, Football for Hope and all – he clung on to power at all costs through a jaw-dropping succession of scandals revealed by dogged investigative reporters.Existing in a bubble of private jets, five-star hotels and the endless, meaningless babble of Fifa – handshakes for peace, Nobel Foundation initiatives, Football for Hope and all – he clung on to power at all costs through a jaw-dropping succession of scandals revealed by dogged investigative reporters.
At times he appeared divorced from the reality of his organisation as the rest of the world sees it and the dark heart of corruption among its most senior figures, so vividly outlined last week in a Brooklyn address by the US attorney general, Loretta Lynch.At times he appeared divorced from the reality of his organisation as the rest of the world sees it and the dark heart of corruption among its most senior figures, so vividly outlined last week in a Brooklyn address by the US attorney general, Loretta Lynch.
When he is not living the life of a head of state, Blatter has been salting away a salary never disclosed but which almost certainly totals more than $10m (£6.5m) a year.When he is not living the life of a head of state, Blatter has been salting away a salary never disclosed but which almost certainly totals more than $10m (£6.5m) a year.
To see the reasons for a dramatic U-turn in keeping with Blatter’s flair for the grand gesture, it is perhaps necessary to understand his desire to retain at least a modicum of control over the organisation he sees as his own.To see the reasons for a dramatic U-turn in keeping with Blatter’s flair for the grand gesture, it is perhaps necessary to understand his desire to retain at least a modicum of control over the organisation he sees as his own.
He will want to go at a time of his choosing, giving himself a final six to nine months in which to dispatch enemies, settle scores and attempt to pass the organisation on to a chosen successor. Whether the FBI will afford him that privilege remains to be seen.He will want to go at a time of his choosing, giving himself a final six to nine months in which to dispatch enemies, settle scores and attempt to pass the organisation on to a chosen successor. Whether the FBI will afford him that privilege remains to be seen.
Having joined in 1975 when it had just 12 employees, he created the model of kickbacks, patronage and pork barrel politics over a period in which Fifa’s revenues have soared – and turned a blind eye to the staggering greed among those afforded a piece of it.Having joined in 1975 when it had just 12 employees, he created the model of kickbacks, patronage and pork barrel politics over a period in which Fifa’s revenues have soared – and turned a blind eye to the staggering greed among those afforded a piece of it.
Blatter was ultimately undone by the things that had sustained him. In trying to pull the rug out from under Mohamed bin Hammam, his one-time ally who challenged him for the presidency in 2011, Blatter set in motion a chain of events involving Chuck Blazer and Jack Warner that ended in last Wednesday’s dawn raid on the Baur au Lac and that damning US indictment.Blatter was ultimately undone by the things that had sustained him. In trying to pull the rug out from under Mohamed bin Hammam, his one-time ally who challenged him for the presidency in 2011, Blatter set in motion a chain of events involving Chuck Blazer and Jack Warner that ended in last Wednesday’s dawn raid on the Baur au Lac and that damning US indictment.
The Uefa president, Michel Platini, another of Blatter’s former allies and heir apparent, will be one of those now considering his options. Like others, he has had the prospect of one day succeeding Blatter dangled then snatched away more than once.The Uefa president, Michel Platini, another of Blatter’s former allies and heir apparent, will be one of those now considering his options. Like others, he has had the prospect of one day succeeding Blatter dangled then snatched away more than once.
But he too is compromised by his support for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid and his part in the machine. Another likely candidate, the Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, has been quietly positioning himself as the key power broker in world sport and backed Blatter to the hilt in last week’s election.But he too is compromised by his support for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid and his part in the machine. Another likely candidate, the Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, has been quietly positioning himself as the key power broker in world sport and backed Blatter to the hilt in last week’s election.
World football now have to face up to not only life beyond its pantomime villain but the more in-depth challenge of reforming an institution that is patently not fit for purpose. Then there are pressing questions over where the next two world cups in Russia and Qatar, decided by a deeply flawed bidding process, should take place. World football now have to face up to not only life beyond its pantomime villain but the more in-depth challenge of reforming an institution that is patently not fit for purpose. Then there are pressing questions over where the next two World Cups in Russia and Qatar, decided by a deeply flawed bidding process, should take place.