Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Fifa president Sepp Blatter denies football is in crisis as he comes out fighting ahead of election
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SPORTS
Sepp Blatter defied his critics, a barrage of corruption allegations and the combined efforts of the world media to insist that the organisation he has led into a deepening scandal was not in crisis, and that he is the man to lead Fifa to reform.
Fighting talk: Sepp Blatter admits Fifa face 'difficulties' but called for 'respect' Photo: AP
In a combative press conference that ended in angry exchanges with reporters and Blatter demanding “respect”, the Fifa president dismissed the current tide of allegations as “difficulties”, and said he was determined to stand unopposed in Wednesday’s election.
Asked if bribery allegations against two of his most senior former allies, Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner, and continued questions over the probity of the Qatar 2022 bid constituted a crisis, Blatter said: “What is a crisis? Football is not in a crisis. When you see the final of the Champions League then you must applaud. So we are not in a crisis, we are only in some difficulties.”
Blatter’s denial of the chaos engulfing Fifa is at odds with wider public, political and, perhaps crucially, commercial perceptions, however. On Monday, after another round of claim and counter-claim from former allies now at war, Fifa’s major sponsors Coca-Cola and Adidas joined the chorus of disapproval, describing the spectacle as “distressing” and “damaging”.
Blatter dismissed corruption allegations against Qatar 2022 made by his own general secretary, and claims of impropriety against four Fifa executive committee members levelled by Lord Triesman, as groundless.
Only on the issue of the bribery allegations against Warner and Bin Hammam, which are simultaneously the gravest, the best supported by evidence and the most politically advantageous, did Blatter concede there is a case to answer.
His stance makes it clear that he intends to stand for re-election unopposed and then present a reform agenda to Congress that he believes will enable Fifa to move forward in “unity and solidarity”.
There was precious little of either in evidence on Monday as allegations continued to convulse the world governing body, leaving Blatter looking like a man unaware or unconcerned that his house is on fire.
Monday began with Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke admitting that an email released by Warner in which he claimed Qatar had “bought” the 2022 World Cup was genuine.
This raises doubts about whether he can continue in his post, as well as adding to the growing allegations against Qatar, which are all denied.
Qatar demanded an explanation but by early evening, shortly before Blatter appeared before the media, Valcke issued a statement saying that he was referring only to Qatar’s huge marketing budget, as opposed to unethical behaviour.
“What I wanted to say is that the winning bid used their financial strength to lobby for support. I have at no time made, or was intending to make, any reference to any purchase of votes or similar unethical behaviour,” Valcke said.
This was good enough for Blatter to declare that there was no case for Qatar to answer, though he avoided answering a question as to whether he believed the bid was clean. Qatar complained that their name had been “dragged through the mud” and said they would consult their lawyers.
The unease around Qatar has been heightened by the bribery allegations against Bin Hammam, who withdrew from the presidential election after being accused along with Warner of offering $1 million (£600,000) in bribes to Caribbean football chiefs.
Both men continued to contest their innocence on Monday with Bin Hammam filing an appeal with Fifa’s ethics committee and demanding that it be heard on Tuesday so that he can be reinstated by the time Congress begins on Wednesday.
Warner promised that he would continue to unleash allegations against Fifa, describing the revelation of the Valcke email as just the beginning: “This is child’s play” he said.
Blatter affected not to be concerned about the threat of further damage but when asked how Fifa’s reputation came to be at an all-time low he said the body had become “too comfortable” and conceded it was now “in a very bad situation”.
“We have the chance at the Congress on Wednesday if the delegates want to take it if they want to restore this credibility of Fifa and restore it with me,” he added.
On past evidence Congress will go with him, but the wider football public will take more persuading.
Monday's events
Qatar 'bought' World Cup
11am: Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke admits sending an email to Jack Warner in which he said “he [Mohamed Bin Hammam] thought you can buy Fifa as they bought the WC [World Cup]”, but says it was a ’private’ email.
12pm: Bin Hammam denies Valcke’s allegation. Qatar issue denial and say they are “urgently seeking clarification from Fifa” and are taking legal advice.
5.30pm: Valcke 'clarifies’ his position in another statement: “What I wanted to say is that the winning bid used their financial strength to lobby for support.”
Bribery allegations
11am: Chuck Blazer, who blew the whistle on bribes allegedly paid by Bin Hammam and Jack Warner to CONCACAF, tells members who accepted $40,000 payments the cash must be returned.
Blatter: No crisis
5.45pm: Blatter gives defiant press conference in which he insists Fifa can reform from within.
Bin Hammam's appeal
11am: Bin Hammam, who had been due to challenge Sepp Blatter for Fifa presidency this week, lodges appeal against his suspension.
Triesman's allegations
5pm: Fifa announces there is no case to answer over any of the allegations made by Lord Triesman over the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup.
7.30pm: Fifa publishes the report into those allegations.
There was precious little of either in evidence on Monday as allegations continued to convulse the world governing body, leaving Blatter looking like a man unaware or unconcerned that his house is on fire.
Monday began with Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke admitting that an email released by Warner in which he claimed Qatar had “bought” the 2022 World Cup was genuine.
This raises doubts about whether he can continue in his post, as well as adding to the growing allegations against Qatar, which are all denied.
Qatar demanded an explanation but by early evening, shortly before Blatter appeared before the media, Valcke issued a statement saying that he was referring only to Qatar’s huge marketing budget, as opposed to unethical behaviour.
“What I wanted to say is that the winning bid used their financial strength to lobby for support. I have at no time made, or was intending to make, any reference to any purchase of votes or similar unethical behaviour,” Valcke said.
This was good enough for Blatter to declare that there was no case for Qatar to answer, though he avoided answering a question as to whether he believed the bid was clean. Qatar complained that their name had been “dragged through the mud” and said they would consult their lawyers.
The unease around Qatar has been heightened by the bribery allegations against Bin Hammam, who withdrew from the presidential election after being accused along with Warner of offering $1 million (£600,000) in bribes to Caribbean football chiefs.
Both men continued to contest their innocence on Monday with Bin Hammam filing an appeal with Fifa’s ethics committee and demanding that it be heard on Tuesday so that he can be reinstated by the time Congress begins on Wednesday.
Warner promised that he would continue to unleash allegations against Fifa, describing the revelation of the Valcke email as just the beginning: “This is child’s play” he said.
Blatter affected not to be concerned about the threat of further damage but when asked how Fifa’s reputation came to be at an all-time low he said the body had become “too comfortable” and conceded it was now “in a very bad situation”.
“We have the chance at the Congress on Wednesday if the delegates want to take it if they want to restore this credibility of Fifa and restore it with me,” he added.
On past evidence Congress will go with him, but the wider football public will take more persuading.
Monday's events
Qatar 'bought' World Cup
11am: Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke admits sending an email to Jack Warner in which he said “he [Mohamed Bin Hammam] thought you can buy Fifa as they bought the WC [World Cup]”, but says it was a ’private’ email.
12pm: Bin Hammam denies Valcke’s allegation. Qatar issue denial and say they are “urgently seeking clarification from Fifa” and are taking legal advice.
5.30pm: Valcke 'clarifies’ his position in another statement: “What I wanted to say is that the winning bid used their financial strength to lobby for support.”
Bribery allegations
11am: Chuck Blazer, who blew the whistle on bribes allegedly paid by Bin Hammam and Jack Warner to CONCACAF, tells members who accepted $40,000 payments the cash must be returned.
Blatter: No crisis
5.45pm: Blatter gives defiant press conference in which he insists Fifa can reform from within.
Bin Hammam's appeal
11am: Bin Hammam, who had been due to challenge Sepp Blatter for Fifa presidency this week, lodges appeal against his suspension.
Triesman's allegations
5pm: Fifa announces there is no case to answer over any of the allegations made by Lord Triesman over the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup.
7.30pm: Fifa publishes the report into those allegations.
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