Football in Crisis: Sepp Blatter WINS FIFA Presidential Election After His Loyal Cronies Ignore Corruption Scandal
– So Will UEFA Nations Boycott the World Cup as Michel Platini Threatened?
- Sepp Blatter re-elected as president of FIFA in Zurich election
- Incumbent Blatter received 133 votes in first round; Prince Ali 73
- With Blatter just seven short of majority, Prince Ali conceded despite being eligible for a second round of voting
- The 79-year-old enters a fifth term at the helm of football's governing body
- His first challenge is to deal with £100m corruption scandal
- UEFA must now decide whether to go through with Michel Platini's threat to boycott the World Cup
- Blatter earlier said £100m corruption scandal was a western conspiracy
- He said there would be no problem if 'two other countries' - meaning England and the USA - were awarded World Cups in 2018 and 2022
- VISA Threatened to withdraw support to FIFA
Daily Mail UK, 29 May 2015
The corruption crisis engulfing FIFA failed to topple Sepp Blatter on Friday as he was elected president for a fifth term.
The Swiss will continue to lead world football's governing body into his eighties after winning by a majority of 133 to 73 in the first round of the vote at the FIFA Congress in Zurich.
Blatter was just seven short of a majority and his opponent, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein decided to withdraw before the second round.
Despite 73 member associations throwing their support behind Blatter's sole opponent, there will be no change at the top of the embattled organisation.
It means Blatter, 79, will remain at the helm as authorities in the United States lead an investigation into endemic racketeering, bribery and money laundering involving leading FIFA officials going back decades.
The result also significantly increases the prospect of European nations boycotting future World Cups, as mooted by president Michel Platini on Thursday.
FA Chairman Greg Dyke told Sky News the England team will not withdraw from any tournaments on its own but added: 'I cannot see FIFA reforming itself under Blatter; he's had 16 years to do it.
Sepp Blatter celebrates after his re-election as president of FIFA in Zurich on Friday night
Blatter beat Prince Ali bin al-Hussein by a margin of 133-73 in the first round of voting, forcing his withdrawal
FA chairman Greg Dyke steps forward to cast his vote in Friday's presidential election in Zurich
In his acceptance speech, Blatter, who has been in charge since 1998 and will serve another four years said:
'First of all I would like to give compliments and express my gratitude to his Royal Highness Prince Ali.
'He was a competitor, a challenger and he has obtained a very good result. He could have easily said 'let's go further - perhaps I will receive more votes'.
'I thank you that you accepted me and for the next four years I will be in command of this boat called FIFA and we will bring it back off shore and back to the beach. We will finally bring ot back to where football can be played.
'I take the responsibility to bring back FIFA and I am convinced we can do it. I'm a faithful man and God will help us bring back FIFA to where it should be. I promise you that at the end of this term I will give FIFA to my successor in a strong position.'
Quote:
FIFA PRESIDENTIAL VOTE
FIRST ROUND (TARGET 140)
Sepp Blatter ..133 Votes
Prince Ali .........73 Votes
PRINCE ALI WITHDREW BEFORE SECOND ROUND COULD BE HELD
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The victory is also set to see further protests from UEFA - the first action has come from David Gill, the Football Association vice-chairman who will reject the post of British vice-president as he does not want to serve under Blatter.
Gill will not attend the post-Congress executive committee meeting on Saturday where a decision is set to be taken on the allocation of World Cup places to each confederation.
Prince Ali's speech calling for reform ahead of the vote failed to win over delegates committed to returning Blatter to office.
The Jordanian prince said:
'We have heard in recent days, voices which described our FIFA as an avaricious body which feeds on the game that the world loves.
'We have heard questions raised about whether our family is morally bankrupt. And we have heard countless individuals ponder how on earth it could have gotten so bad.
Blatter walks to the podium to deliver his final hustings speech beneath the flags of the member nations
Each of the candidates had 15 minutes to outline their pledges before voting got underway in Zurich
Blatter walks past the UEFA president Michel Platini, who had urged his member nations to vote for Prince Ali
'There are no easy answers. And no blame that can be cast that will wash away the stain that marks us all.
'And yet, nothing in life can exist without hope. And even the darkest nights are broken by a new dawn.'
The 39-year-old head of the Jordanian FA added: 'Change is not an event. It is a process. It is not about empowering wrong doing and then demanding to root it out.
'Our path - and our way to the future - must be lit by the creation of a culture that empowers transparency, inclusivity and accountability.
'Our rehabilitation in public perception will only come through the actions and work of all of us, together, pulling in the same direction, for the good of the sport, and for FIFA.'
David Gill becomes a FIFA vice-president, but he has said he will resign if Blatter is re-elected today
UEFA president Michel Platini greets FIFA head Sepp Blatter as the FIFA Congress begins on Friday
Blatter tried to strike a defiant tone after a turbulent week that saw FIFA mired in corruption charges
Earlier, in a rambling speech to open Friday's FIFA Congress, beleaguered Blatter claimed things would be different if two other countries had emerged from the envelopes.
He meant England for 2018 and USA for 2022 – a dig at the British media who have led the anti-Blatter agenda and the FBI, whose investigations led to seven arrests and 14 officials indicted on bribery and kickback charges by the US Attorney.
Blatter said: 'They call into question the World Cups of 2018 and 2022. In December 2010 here in Zurich when we decided on the two World Cups in one session.
'If two other countries had emerged from the envelopes, we would not have these problems today. But we can't go back in time, we are not prophets. We can't say what would have happened.'
A pro-Palestinian protester gained access to the conference hall at the end of Blatter's speech on Friday
The protester, waving a Palestinian flag, was swiftly removed by security guards
Pro-Palestinian protesters briefly interrupted Blatter's speech with world football's governing body set to vote later on whether to expel Israel from the organisation.
The two female protesters stormed the opening address, waving red cards at FIFA representatives and chanting 'Israel out!' before being escorted out of the hall by security guards.
A group of around 150 pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered to chant outside Zurich's Hallenstadion before the congress started.
A bomb scare during lunch only added to the drama as the delegates from the 209 associations were told they were not permitted to remain in the Congress Hall.
Michel Platini (right) buries his head in his hands as Blatter (left) addresses the floor at the Congress today
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron had earlier urged Blatter to step down, saying 'the sooner that happens the better.'
Speaking in Berlin, he said: 'In my view he should go. You cannot have accusations of corruption at this level and on this scale in this organisation and pretend that the person currently leading it is the right person to take it forward. That cannot be the case.
'Frankly what we have seen is the ugly side of the beautiful game and he should go.
'And the sooner that happens the better and the faster that organisation can start to rebuild its credibility which is so important because so many people around the world want to see this game properly managed, properly looked after so we can all enjoy the World Cups of the future.'
Prime Minister David Cameron called for Blatter to step aside, saying 'the sooner that happens the better'
Blatter speaks to girlfriend Linda Barras as the FIFA Congress started on Thursday
The head of Brazil's football federation fled Switzerland on the eve of the vote.
Marco Polo Del Nero left Zurich on Thursday night along with members of his personal delegation amid rumours he was spooked by the arrest of his predecessor Jose Maria Marin the day before.
Marin, who was in charge of the Brazilian FA between 2012 and 2015, was one of the 14 men indicted in the United States-led investigation into £100m of FIFA corruption.
A FIFA spokesman confirmed Del Nero had checked out of the five-star Baur au Lac hotel, where the dawn raids took place on Wednesday, and left the country - though he did not state why.
Del Nero, 74, was not one of those indicted by the United States. He is a member of FIFA's 24-member executive committee.
Marco Polo Del Nero, head of the Brazilian football federation, fled Switzerland on the eve of the vote
Jose Maria Marin, the former head of the Brazilian FA seen here with FIFA president Blatter, was one of seven football officials arrested in Zurich on Wednesday as two corruption investigations were launched
Even if he is re-elected, the Swiss could face a UEFA revolution that could see the European nations secede from the world governing body, withdrawing from events such as the World Cup.
English FA chairman Greg Dyke supported Platini's proposed boycott of the World Cup.
He told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4:
'There is no point in one or two countries saying 'we're not going to take part' because they will carry on with the tournament without them and that is pretty unfair on the fans.
'But if UEFA as a group said 'look, unless you get this sorted we are not going to be in the World Cup' then I think that we would join them.'
Protesters over the treatment of workers on the 2022 World Cup stadiums in Qatar outside the FIFA Congress
Quote:
ITALIAN NEWSPAPER CLAIMS FIFA WERE INVOLVED WITH MATCH-FIXING AT 2002 WORLD CUP
Friday's edition of Corriere dello Sport
Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claim the latest FIFA scandal confirms their long-held suspicions about Italy's match against South Korea at the 2002 World Cup.
This match and the Spain vs South Korea quarter-final were marred by some dubious refereeing decisions, which saw hosts Korea upset the odds and triumph.
These latest Corriere reports, however, don't feature any new information and merely serve to remind their readers of the injustice suffered by Italy 13 years ago.
The Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno, who sent off Italy's Francesco Totti in a much-scrutinised decision, is currently serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking.
'They rigged the World Cups!' runs the front page headline of Friday's edition, adding 'Remember the referee Moreno? Suspicions confirmed on the favours to Korea in 2002.'
Korea beat Italy 2-1 thanks to a golden goal in extra time from Ahn Jung-hwan. Roma striker Totti was sent off by Moreno after 104 minutes after receiving a second yellow for diving.
Blatter said at the time: 'Italy's elimination is not only down to referees and linesmen who made human not premeditated errors ... Italy made mistakes both in defence and in attack.'
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Meanwhile, former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner appeared at a political rally for his Independent Liberal Party in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago, on Thursday.
Having surrendered to authorities on Wednesday, he was granted bail but left jail in an ambulance complaining of exhaustion.
But the politician still had enough energy to rant against the corruption charges.
He said:
'If I have been thieving FIFA money for 30 years, who give me the money? How come he is not charged? Why only persons from Third World countries have been charged?'
Warner's remarks drew enthusiastic cheers and applause from his supporters.
Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner addresses supporters at a political rally on Thursday - hours after he was bailed by authorities having turned himself in over the £100m corruption allegations
Warner salutes the crowd following a political rally just hours after he left prison in an ambulance
In other developments, two of Britain's biggest High Street banks have been dragged into the corruption scandal.
Barclays and HSBC are named in legal papers filed by the US Department of Justice after millions of dollars in suspect transactions linked to FIFA were allegedly moved through their accounts.
Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and City of London Police are assisting the FBI in their inquiries.
'The SFO continues actively to assess material in its possession and has made plain that it stands ready to assist ongoing international criminal investigations,' a spokesman said.
The SFO has not launched a formal criminal investigation.
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THE 14 MEN CHARGED IN UNITED STATES INVESTIGATION INTO FIFA CORRUPTION
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Prince Ali Withdraws from FIFA Presidential Race after First Round Vote...