This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/06/fifa-fallout-brazil-zico-sepp-blatter
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fifa scandal fallout: critics scent blood as Brazilian old guard feel the heat | Fifa scandal fallout: critics scent blood as Brazilian old guard feel the heat |
| (3 days later) | |
| In Brazil, the fall of the Blatter empire has unleashed a glorious turmoil that has set football legends against the kleptocrats who have long run the game. | In Brazil, the fall of the Blatter empire has unleashed a glorious turmoil that has set football legends against the kleptocrats who have long run the game. |
| Romário and Ronaldo, former national team strikers, have called for the resignation of the president of the Brazil Football Confederation. Zico has declared he may run to replace Blatter. And a grassroots organisation of professional players is demanding major reform. | Romário and Ronaldo, former national team strikers, have called for the resignation of the president of the Brazil Football Confederation. Zico has declared he may run to replace Blatter. And a grassroots organisation of professional players is demanding major reform. |
| Brazilian football has always had two very different sides, both of which have shaped the game at an international level. On the pitch, the seleçao – comprised mostly of players from poor communities – has won more World Cups than any other. Off the pitch, its executives – most of whom are from the country’s white elite – created a system of patronage and kickbacks that became the global model during the long reign of Blatter’s Brazilian predecessor, João Havelange, as Fifa president. | Brazilian football has always had two very different sides, both of which have shaped the game at an international level. On the pitch, the seleçao – comprised mostly of players from poor communities – has won more World Cups than any other. Off the pitch, its executives – most of whom are from the country’s white elite – created a system of patronage and kickbacks that became the global model during the long reign of Blatter’s Brazilian predecessor, João Havelange, as Fifa president. |
| Related: A dark day for Fifa after claims of arms deals for World Cup votes | Related: A dark day for Fifa after claims of arms deals for World Cup votes |
| Now, with the help of the FBI and police in Switzerland and Brazil, these two sides are at one another’s throats. After decades of impunity, the heirs of Havelange face questions. First José Maria Marin – the CBF president during last year’s World Cup – who was arrested by Swiss police in Zurich two weeks ago. Next came his predecessor (and Havelange’s former son-in-law) Ricardo Teixeira, who was indicted by Brazilian prosecutors last week for money-laundering, tax evasion and fraud. Now, the current holder of the post, Marco Polo Del Nero, is under pressure, having been named in an FBI indictment as a co-conspirator with Teixeira in a bribery case relating to the sale of TV rights. | Now, with the help of the FBI and police in Switzerland and Brazil, these two sides are at one another’s throats. After decades of impunity, the heirs of Havelange face questions. First José Maria Marin – the CBF president during last year’s World Cup – who was arrested by Swiss police in Zurich two weeks ago. Next came his predecessor (and Havelange’s former son-in-law) Ricardo Teixeira, who was indicted by Brazilian prosecutors last week for money-laundering, tax evasion and fraud. Now, the current holder of the post, Marco Polo Del Nero, is under pressure, having been named in an FBI indictment as a co-conspirator with Teixeira in a bribery case relating to the sale of TV rights. |
| Critics scent blood. Last Sunday, Romário, who is now a senator, launched a congressional inquiry into corruption in the senior echelons of the sport in Brazil. “The resignation of Joseph Blatter as president of Fifa is the beginning of a new era for world football. All corrupt managers of the confederations, around the world, will feel his fall like a tsunami,” he wrote on his Instagram account. | Critics scent blood. Last Sunday, Romário, who is now a senator, launched a congressional inquiry into corruption in the senior echelons of the sport in Brazil. “The resignation of Joseph Blatter as president of Fifa is the beginning of a new era for world football. All corrupt managers of the confederations, around the world, will feel his fall like a tsunami,” he wrote on his Instagram account. |
| Days later Ronaldo added his voice to his former striking partner’s calls for Del Nero to stand down. “The relationship he has with the former president José Maria Marin is very clear, and therefore it would be a good time for him to resign,” said Ronaldo, whose partner at the marketing firm Traffic has admitted paying bribes and is now providing information to the FBI. | Days later Ronaldo added his voice to his former striking partner’s calls for Del Nero to stand down. “The relationship he has with the former president José Maria Marin is very clear, and therefore it would be a good time for him to resign,” said Ronaldo, whose partner at the marketing firm Traffic has admitted paying bribes and is now providing information to the FBI. |
| Other former players are taking a different tack. Zico is considering whether to throw his hat into the ring to replace Blatter. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the former Brazil captain and national coach, said he has thought about it over dinner with his wife in Berlin. “Why not?” he wrote. “I believe in football above politics. I may not have the support, but if the position is still open I can apply for the Fifa job. It’s still an idea. Who knows?” | Other former players are taking a different tack. Zico is considering whether to throw his hat into the ring to replace Blatter. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the former Brazil captain and national coach, said he has thought about it over dinner with his wife in Berlin. “Why not?” he wrote. “I believe in football above politics. I may not have the support, but if the position is still open I can apply for the Fifa job. It’s still an idea. Who knows?” |
| Pelé, who supported Blatter’s re-election, was non-committal. “My view is that of a player. I want to see football bringing people together, stopping wars. That’s what football is about. What has it got to do with corruption ... that’s not my problem,” he said. | Pelé, who supported Blatter’s re-election, was non-committal. “My view is that of a player. I want to see football bringing people together, stopping wars. That’s what football is about. What has it got to do with corruption ... that’s not my problem,” he said. |
| But there are already visible signs of change. Marin’s name has been removed from the exterior of the CBF headquarters, which were previously named after him. He was suspended from his vice-presidential position in the confederation. He was also dismissed from the executive committee of the South American football confederation, Conmebol. | But there are already visible signs of change. Marin’s name has been removed from the exterior of the CBF headquarters, which were previously named after him. He was suspended from his vice-presidential position in the confederation. He was also dismissed from the executive committee of the South American football confederation, Conmebol. |
| The commentator Marília Ruiz said the impact of Blatter’s resignation was gigantic. “It’s like a house of cards, you take one and the others fall,” she said. “This debate isn’t going to die away. The police investigation has been open for years but this is a new chance. There have already been so many windows of opportunity lost, but this is the biggest. The gates have now been thrown open.” | |
| Splits have appeared in the top ranks of the CBF. Del Nero has been criticised by his vice-president Delfim Peixoto before a special general meeting on Thursday at which the confederation will discuss whether to change the rules of succession. | Splits have appeared in the top ranks of the CBF. Del Nero has been criticised by his vice-president Delfim Peixoto before a special general meeting on Thursday at which the confederation will discuss whether to change the rules of succession. |
| Under the existing rules, the most senior vice-president – Peixoto – would automatically assume power when the top post is vacant, but this could be changed. Peixoto has warned that this may be a move to silence the most outspoken member of the CBF executive. “This is a blow and I think he [Del Nero] has to explain not only to the members of the assembly, but to the whole country why he has struck this blow and whether he will resign,” said Peixoto. | Under the existing rules, the most senior vice-president – Peixoto – would automatically assume power when the top post is vacant, but this could be changed. Peixoto has warned that this may be a move to silence the most outspoken member of the CBF executive. “This is a blow and I think he [Del Nero] has to explain not only to the members of the assembly, but to the whole country why he has struck this blow and whether he will resign,” said Peixoto. |
| Time will tell if the meeting will do anything more than reshuffle the names at the top. More significant, but less likely, would be the granting of a stronger voice to the players and clubs outside the powerhouses of Rio and São Paulo, or shake up the vested interests that control the game at every level. | Time will tell if the meeting will do anything more than reshuffle the names at the top. More significant, but less likely, would be the granting of a stronger voice to the players and clubs outside the powerhouses of Rio and São Paulo, or shake up the vested interests that control the game at every level. |
| Common Sense FC – a group of more than a thousand players who are calling for more transparency and accountability – say the crisis is an opportunity to tackle a host of problems facing football in Brazil, including poor attendances, huge levels of debt at most clubs and an irrational calendar of matches that leaves thousands of professional players unemployed for most of the year while the CBF and regional federations milk TV and sponsorship rights for millions. | Common Sense FC – a group of more than a thousand players who are calling for more transparency and accountability – say the crisis is an opportunity to tackle a host of problems facing football in Brazil, including poor attendances, huge levels of debt at most clubs and an irrational calendar of matches that leaves thousands of professional players unemployed for most of the year while the CBF and regional federations milk TV and sponsorship rights for millions. |
| “There are urgent measures of democratisation and transparency. The CBF can no longer be an entity that uses the team and the colours of the national flag to privilege a few leaders,” Paulo André, the founder of Common Sense, told El País. | “There are urgent measures of democratisation and transparency. The CBF can no longer be an entity that uses the team and the colours of the national flag to privilege a few leaders,” Paulo André, the founder of Common Sense, told El País. |
| Fans have learned to be cynical. “I’d love to see a reform of the CBF. But as much as they say they’re doing something, it’s just lip service. Little is still known about spending, contracts, salaries and the processes for choosing certain positions,” said Alexandre Addor. He said this is a global problem that has worsened over decades. “Endemic corruption in football won’t be resolved overnight, just with the mere resignation of Sepp Blatter. The entire structure that supports it is still in place.” | Fans have learned to be cynical. “I’d love to see a reform of the CBF. But as much as they say they’re doing something, it’s just lip service. Little is still known about spending, contracts, salaries and the processes for choosing certain positions,” said Alexandre Addor. He said this is a global problem that has worsened over decades. “Endemic corruption in football won’t be resolved overnight, just with the mere resignation of Sepp Blatter. The entire structure that supports it is still in place.” |
| US interference is usually resented and while many are suspicious of the political motives of the investigators, it is hard to find a critical voice about the role of the FBI, which has acted decisively on corruption that Brazil’s judicial authorities have ignored for decades. | US interference is usually resented and while many are suspicious of the political motives of the investigators, it is hard to find a critical voice about the role of the FBI, which has acted decisively on corruption that Brazil’s judicial authorities have ignored for decades. |
| Epoca magazine, which has broken many details of the scandals inside the CBF, reported that Teixeira, chairman of the 2014 World Cup organising committee, moved 464m reals (£96.7m) through his accounts, as well as paying less than half the market rate for an apartment, and operating as a secret partner in two companies that created conflicts of interest. One of the firms was reportedly co-owned by Sandro Rosell, the former Barcelona president who was a Nike marketing executive in Latin America at the time it signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with the CBF. Rosell has been indicted alongside Teixeira. His lawyer says every action of his client was strictly legal. | Epoca magazine, which has broken many details of the scandals inside the CBF, reported that Teixeira, chairman of the 2014 World Cup organising committee, moved 464m reals (£96.7m) through his accounts, as well as paying less than half the market rate for an apartment, and operating as a secret partner in two companies that created conflicts of interest. One of the firms was reportedly co-owned by Sandro Rosell, the former Barcelona president who was a Nike marketing executive in Latin America at the time it signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with the CBF. Rosell has been indicted alongside Teixeira. His lawyer says every action of his client was strictly legal. |
| Teixeira is also accused by the FBI of sharing bribes for TV broadcasting rights with his successors, Marin and Del Nero. | Teixeira is also accused by the FBI of sharing bribes for TV broadcasting rights with his successors, Marin and Del Nero. |
| The FBI is now focusing on the relationship between Jérôme Valcke, the Fifa secretary general, and Teixeira, according to the Estadão do São Paulo newspaper. Valcke worked as a consultant for the CBF for several years and is said to have forged a close relationship with Teixeira. Valcke’s son, Sébastien, works as a marketing agent for the CBF. | The FBI is now focusing on the relationship between Jérôme Valcke, the Fifa secretary general, and Teixeira, according to the Estadão do São Paulo newspaper. Valcke worked as a consultant for the CBF for several years and is said to have forged a close relationship with Teixeira. Valcke’s son, Sébastien, works as a marketing agent for the CBF. |
| “These are very important investigations,” said the journalist Ruiz. “On a realistic level, not speaking about dreams and aspirations, the best that can come of this is the strengthening of football clubs in Brazil. It’s not going to change everything, though. | “These are very important investigations,” said the journalist Ruiz. “On a realistic level, not speaking about dreams and aspirations, the best that can come of this is the strengthening of football clubs in Brazil. It’s not going to change everything, though. |
| “I don’t think there are negative effects. It could impact sponsorships in the short term. The CBF could lose some sponsors in the first instance, but in the longer term the team won’t be affected because the brand of the team is much stronger than the CBF brand,” he said. In any case, she added, “nothing could be worse than the 7-1”. | |
| Additional reporting by Shanna Hanbury | Additional reporting by Shanna Hanbury |
Previous version
1
Next version