By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – Lennart Johansson (pictured), the former UEFA chief humbled by Sepp Blatter for the Presidency of FIFA 14 years ago, has called for an independent investigation into allegations that Blatter promised to sell World Cup television rights in return for election backing.
Johansson, now 82, believes claims by Jack Warner that he was sold World Cup broadcast rights for a paltry $1 (£0.65/€0.78) should be investigated even though FIFA says Warner’s version of events contained “several inaccuracies and falsehoods” and that it has done nothing wrong.
Johansson, a guest at the Ballon d’Or celebrations in Zurich on Monday (January 9), has always felt he was robbed when he took on Blatter in 1998.
Despite being invited to many of FIFA’s celebratory galas as one of football’s most respected older statesmen, he has maintained a frosty relationship with Blatter.
“I think I’m entitled to talk about it because I was the second candidate at the election in 1998,” Johansson said.
“Mr Warner made us aware of really what’s happened by telling us about it.
“Then if he’s telling a lie that should be proved.
“We will see.”
Blatter (pictured left), 75, was elected unopposed for a fourth and final term last year after his only challenger, former Asian soccer head Mohamed Bin Hammam, quit over the cash-for-votes inquiry and was later banned.
Warner (pictured right), FIFA’s most senior vice-president, resigned before the inquiry had time to probe allegations that he arranged the infamous meeting in his native Trinidad and Tobago.
Warner has since unleashed a string of counter allegations about FIFA’s behaviour to deliberately coincide with Blatter’s reform programme, an initiative Johansson says is unlikely to lead to any long lasting transparency.
The Swede was convinced he had won enough votes when he took on Blatter in Paris but was crushed in the first round of balloting amid allegations of dirty tricks and backroom dealings that swirled around the French capital.
He has long believed that many FIFA member nations, not least those from Africa, reneged on a promise to vote for him.
“For people on the streets, FIFA is corruption, is bribery, things like that and they hear it year after year and nothing happens,” Johansson told Bloomberg.
“I can’t see how things like that can change.”
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734997894labto1734997894ofdlr1734997894owedi1734997894sni@w1734997894ahsra1734997894w.wer1734997894dna1734997894
Related stories
January 2012: FIFA fight back in Warner television rights row
December 2011: Andrew Warshaw – Blatter needs to publicly respond to Warner’s allegations
December 2011: British MP demands investigation into FIFA chief Sepp Blatter
December 2011: Warner claims World Cup TV rights deal with Blatter
December 2011: Warner renews Blatter hostilities