Sepp Blatter implied in his FIFA president's
address at the Congress that the £100m
corruption scandal was a Western conspiracy.
In a rambling speech, 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 kick-back
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.'
Blatter also made another plea for team
unity adding: 'Given the special
circumstances and the storm that followed
and the major discussions that came with
them. My president's address will be
different.
'I will address what has happened and look
how we can go forward. We are going
through troubled times.
'The events have thrown a shadow over FIFA
but let us try to lift our spirits. We can't
accept FIFA being dragged through the mud.
But those found guilty are individuals not the
organisation.
'These individuals have lost sight that this is
a team sport which everybody must aim at
the same goal. I am willing to accept FIFA is
responsible but share the responsibility with
the Exco committee which is our government.
'We are at a turning point. We need to pull
together and move forward. We cannot
constantly supervise everybody. We have
more than 300m active participants and we
have 1.6 billion people touched by our
game.'
Blatter, who goes up against Prince Ali bin
al-Hussein in Friday's presidential election
added: 'It is not good that all this emerged
two days before the Congress. I'm not going
to say coincidence but I do have a small
question mark.
'There is no sporting event that has more
fame than the World Cup especially with TV
where billion watch. So let us be careful. The
idea of us being a simple game. This is not a
monster.
'Football and FIFA have become very
important. And you the national associations
are the shareholders and owners of this. But
for this to work, there needs to be discipline.
'It's a matter of trust. Let us repair what has
blown down Let the boat go placidly into
port'.
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.
It came as 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.
0 comments: