Blatter to quit as FIFA president
Sepp Blatter
(CNS): Sepp Blatter, the president of the world football governing body, has announced that he will resign, just days after he was re-elected by football executives from around the world. Amid the bribery and corruption scandal that has sucked in dozens of football bosses, including CONCACAF president, Cayman’s Jeffrey Webb, the 79-year-old Swiss national has called an extraordinary FIFA congress “as soon as possible” to elect a new president.
Blatter was re-elected last week, despite seven top FIFA officials being arrested two days before the vote as part of a US prosecution and revelations that dozens more, including market sports executives as well as football administrators, were being investigated in a double probe by the US and Swiss authorities. The US Department of Justice, the FBI and the IRS are looking into corruption, mostly among the officials in the two regional football organization in the Americas over the last 25 years. The Swiss law enforcement agencies are examining the controversial awards of the last two World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar.
As Cayman waited to hear from its own football body, CIFA, and whether it has supported Blatter at Friday’s congress and what its position was now that Webb, who is also the local president, was in jail in Switzerland, Blatter revealed his intention to resign at a press conference in Zurich.
“I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the forty years in which my life has been inextricably bound to FIFA and the great sport of football,” he said, adding that he had felt compelled to stand for re-election, but while the election is over FIFA’s challenges were not.
“FIFA needs a profound overhaul,” Blatter said.
The next congress would have been in May next year in Mexico City but another congress will now be organized as soon as possible for a new election. “We must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign,” the outgoing president added.
Although not arrested during the dawn raids last week, Blatter is my no means in the clear as the finger of suspicion continues to point at the football boss, who has been in the job for decades.
“My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody,” he said Tuesday, as the organization faces its biggest challenge with so many officials charged with racketeering, fraud and money laundering.
“I am very much linked to Fifa and its interests. Those interests are dear to me and this is why I am taking this decision,” Blatter said as he made the announcement that he would quit the FIFA throne. “What counts most to me is the institute of FIFA and football around the world.”
A release from FIFA said that until the congress election, Blatter will carry out his functions as the FIFA president but a new reform programme would be driven by Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of the Audit and Compliance Committee.
Category: Crime, World News
“Sepp Blatter is now at the centre of the FBI’s corruption probe…”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3107842/Sepp-Blatter-resigns-president-FIFA-amid-bribery-scandal.html
Never want to see another European in there, good riddance.
You have probably identified the problem. People are first selected by nationality, creed, or colour of skin and then afterwards everyone complains if they are not ethical or competent.
You’re being ironic – he heh!
It was UEFA that was lobbying to get Blatter out. It was the non-European block vote that kept Blatter in power.
I’ll wager that this is a little deal between “Ultimate Gangsta” Blaggard and the USA. He was allowed to stand for reelection to placate his ego and will simply slither off quietly like the most successful despots often do and keep his treasure to boot. The loyal and blind adjutants will take fall and deserve to.
This is what happens when the “elite balls” are squeezed very tightly between a vice. Trust me, it’s not over it terms of resignations, arrests, indictments etc….
I expect to see additional Caymanians and others around the world, getting an escort directly to New York by the US Marshall Service within the next few months or so. Everybody will now be like a puppy with their tails between their legs, co-operating to the fullest and trying to keep the steam off their behinds.
There will be so much singing that the ching chings, banana birds, big doves, ground doves, bald pates and the night-gales, will have diffuculity comprehending the tunes coming from their mouths.
Lock em up I say, all of them who has brought disgrace to the World through the beautiful game of football.
The next FIFA president should be someone from Nigeria with internet business experience. Let’s see the FBI follow their money trail.
Dear World,
You’re Welcome.
– USA
Seppy ‘ole boy, “You can fool some people sometime, but you can fool all the people all the time.”
I suspect Various Gypsy Roses may have whispered his fortune in his ear…pretty certain indictment to follow… Soon come
another wasted Cayman vote.
Tory come to bump. His sugar baker blow the pressure cooker cover.
“FIFA needs a profound overhaul,” Blatter said. Quite right and he shouldn’t be any part of it.
But Webb apparently still President for Life of CIFA……….