Blatter faces another setback as ISL dossier is delayed by Swiss Supreme Court case

By Andrew Warshaw

February 6 – The long awaited release of documents detailing FIFA’s dealings with its former marketing agency ISL looks set to be further delayed, this time by several months, after appeals to block publication and keep the file secret were sent to Switzerland’s Supreme Court.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) revealed in October last year that documents relating to the 11-year-old case would at last be released as part of FIFA’s attempt to sweep away corruption under its two-year road map to reform.

In December a local Zug court backed that stance by calling on FIFA to publish the dossier naming those who allegedly took kickbacks from World Cup broadcast deals.

But the Swiss Federal Tribunal now says it has opened five separate case files, submitted by unidentified third parties, that will take several months to process.

The documents are reported to name a string of high ranking FIFA officials who allegedly took bribes from ISL prior to its 2001 collapse with debts of $300 million (£190 million/€229 million) but who are now keen to protect their anonymity.

Those implicated are reported to include former FIFA President João Havelange, who resigned his 48-year membership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in December days ahead of an Ethics Committee hearing when he could have been suspended; his former son-in-law, Ricardo Teixeira, President of the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) and Brazil 2014; Paraguay’s Nicolás Leoz, President of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL); and Confederation of African Football (CAF) leader Issa Hayatou.

The latest delay represents another frustrating blow to Blatter in his attempts to repair FIFA’s image and make it more transparent.

Dealing with the ISL case is a crucial part of the reform process following a series of scandals at world football’s governing body.

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