Blatter launches impassioned defense of FIFA
Source: Agencies |
May 23, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
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SEPP Blatter launched an impassioned defense of FIFA's integrity on Saturday, insisting world football's ruling body was not institutionally corrupt and that critics should stop saying it is.
The 75-year-old FIFA President, who is seeking re-election for a fourth term in a June 1 vote, said he had not received any evidence against six members of FIFA's executive committee, who were last week accused of corruption in a vote to decide the World Cup hosts for 2018 and '22.
Last year, FIFA banned six other officials for improper conduct in the same bidding process for hosting rights following an investigation by British newspaper the Sunday Times. But speaking during a visit to South Africa, Blatter said FIFA's ethics committee had "adequately" dealt with those problems - and the latest unproven allegations did not constitute corruption.
"I do not accept it when somebody in this room says that FIFA is a corrupt organization. I do not accept that," Blatter said, raising his voice and hammering his fist on a table for emphasis. "FIFA is not a corrupt organization.
"If there is no proven evidence then it is not corruption. Our committee for ethics, they intervened in October in the matters of six people and they made the adequate investigation and the adequate decisions."
Blatter's visit included discussions of the possibility of a first female member of FIFA's executive committee and the success of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Swiss was regularly applauded by reporters as well as delegates after meeting with leaders from four of the five regional African football federations.
A week ahead of his re-election bid, the four bodies offered their full support to Blatter in his bid for re-election as president of world football.
Blatter is being challenged by Qatar's Mohamed bin Hammam, who was previously believed to have widespread support among Africa's 53 national associations.
However, the continent's all-encompassing Confederation of African Football has now publicly backed Blatter, who has headed FIFA since 1998.
The 75-year-old FIFA President, who is seeking re-election for a fourth term in a June 1 vote, said he had not received any evidence against six members of FIFA's executive committee, who were last week accused of corruption in a vote to decide the World Cup hosts for 2018 and '22.
Last year, FIFA banned six other officials for improper conduct in the same bidding process for hosting rights following an investigation by British newspaper the Sunday Times. But speaking during a visit to South Africa, Blatter said FIFA's ethics committee had "adequately" dealt with those problems - and the latest unproven allegations did not constitute corruption.
"I do not accept it when somebody in this room says that FIFA is a corrupt organization. I do not accept that," Blatter said, raising his voice and hammering his fist on a table for emphasis. "FIFA is not a corrupt organization.
"If there is no proven evidence then it is not corruption. Our committee for ethics, they intervened in October in the matters of six people and they made the adequate investigation and the adequate decisions."
Blatter's visit included discussions of the possibility of a first female member of FIFA's executive committee and the success of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Swiss was regularly applauded by reporters as well as delegates after meeting with leaders from four of the five regional African football federations.
A week ahead of his re-election bid, the four bodies offered their full support to Blatter in his bid for re-election as president of world football.
Blatter is being challenged by Qatar's Mohamed bin Hammam, who was previously believed to have widespread support among Africa's 53 national associations.
However, the continent's all-encompassing Confederation of African Football has now publicly backed Blatter, who has headed FIFA since 1998.
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