Sepp Blatter’s shock resignation as FIFA president failed to quell the corruption storm surrounding football’s world body that now even threatens to touch him. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now looking into Blatter’s role in tens of millions of dollars of bribes given to football officials, according to US media.
Interpol meanwhile put six other suspects, including two former FIFA executive members, on its most wanted list. Critics of the 79-year-old Swiss official rejoiced at his announcement on Tuesday that he would stand down as soon as an election can be held to find a successor. His decision sparked a global race to take over as head of the world’s richest and most powerful sporting federation.
South Korean tycoon Chung Mong-Joon, Prince Ali bin al Hussein, who was beaten by Blatter in a vote last Friday, and Brazilian football legend Zico all said they could take part. Most eyes remain on Michel Platini, the UEFA president who has not given a hint of his plans. But Platini did call off a meeting of the European confederation to discuss the FIFA crisis in Berlin on Saturday because of the “uncertain and unpredictable events” surrounding the world body.
Blatter, who has ruled FIFA for 17 years, won a fifth term in an election on Friday but renewed criticism of his reign and new corruption revelations about FIFA forced him into a corner. “While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football - the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football,” he told a press conference late Tuesday to explain his decision.
Blatter vowed that in his remaining months in office he would “focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms that transcend our previous efforts.” US authorities have charged 14 football officials and sports company executives over more than $150 million in bribes. US Attorney General loretta lynch refused Wednesday to comment on reports that Blatter is also a FBI target.
The New York Times, which broke news of seven arrests before the FIFA congress last week, quoted law enforcement officials and other sources to back their report that the FIFA chief is now in line. ABC News said Blatter was part of the larger probe that led to the arrest of seven FIFA officials in a luxury Swiss hotel last Wednesday.
“Now that people are going to want to save themselves, there’s probably a race to see who will flip on (Blatter) first,” one source told ABC News. “We are not able to comment further on the nature of other individuals who may or may not be,” lynch told reporters at a meeting in the latvia capital Riga. Acting on a US request, Interpol on Wednesday put disgraced FIFA former executive members Jack Warner and Nicolas leoz on their most wanted list and issued an international alert. Warner, a former FIFA vice president, is in Trinidad and Tobago. leoz is reportedly under house arrest in his native Paraguay.
Others listed were Alejandro Burzaco and Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, who together are accused of paying more than $100 million in bribes for media and commercial rights to tournaments; and Jose Margulies, a Brazilian broadcast executive. In parallel to the US inquiry, Swiss prosecutors are looking into the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar. Both countries said they are carrying on with their preparations.
Blatter’s resignation resonated around the world. German tabloid Bild had a front page headline “Blatter Get Out!” Key sponsors said FIFA still has a lot of work to do to clear its name. Coca-Cola called the move “a positive step for the good of sport and its fans”. South Korean auto group Hyundai-Kia urged FIFA now to create “a governance structure that ensures the highest ethical standards for the sport”.
Credit card giant Visa, which had warned it might withdraw its sponsorship, said Blatter’s resignation was “a significant first step” but added: “More work lies ahead.” A special congress to choose Blatter’s replacement cannot be held before December, according to Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA’s independent audit and compliance committee.
Meanwhile back at work on Wednesday, Blatter spoke to FIFA staff for about 10 minutes in the morning, returning to the same auditorium where he delivered his resignation speech a day earlier. Staff described him as being emotional, and said he received a standing ovation.
‘$10 million, not bribes’
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s sports minister “categorically” denied on Wednesday that the $10 million paid to former FIFA official Jack Warner in 2008 was a bribe for his help in securing the World Cup.
Fikile Mbalula, however, said he couldn’t say what Warner did with the money, which South Africa claims was “above board” and meant for football development in the Caribbean region. What happened to the cash is “another story for investigators ... we don’t know,” Mbalula said. “We can’t account for that.”
Mbalula repeated the South African government’s denials that the country paid bribes to win the right to host the 2010 tournament, as alleged in indictments from the US Department of Justice. South Africa’s government and former president Thabo Mbeki first denied any wrongdoing in the bid process last week.
The Justice Department believes that $10 million was sent by South Africa, throughFIFA, to Warner in three wire transfers in 2008 as payback for him and two other then-FIFA executive committee members for backing South Africa.
South African soccer officials, who were meant to attend the briefing, were absent. The South African Football Association had said Tuesday that former World Cup bid and organizing officials would attend, but didn’t then explain why they didn’t.
Platini cancels UEFA meeting
Nyon (Switzerland): UEFA has canceled a meeting in Berlin this weekend where member federations were to discuss ways of opposing a Sepp Blatter-led FIFA. UEFA President Michel Platini says it is better to await developments after Blatter announced plans to resign. Platini also noted the “unpredictable nature” of a US federal investigation into corruption in world football. He says “considering new information is revealed every day, I believe it is wiser to take time to assess the situation.” The 54 UEFA member federations were expected to meet on the sidelines of this weekend’s Champions league final on Saturday.