By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – FIFA presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale says Sepp Blatter’s misconduct should be put into perspective and has praised the work of the outgoing veteran Swiss, currently fighting his eight-year ban.
The South African businessman and politician is very much the unknown factor in the forthcoming presidential election race in terms of how many votes he picks up in Zurich next month. But one strategy he is avoiding is criticising the man who has run FIFA for almost 18 years and who he calls his friend. And the same applies to Michel Platini, also fighting to clear his name.
Blatter and Platini are both banned over the SFr2 million payment made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter’s approval in 2011 for work done nearly a decade earlier.
But Sexwale, one of five candidates standing to replace Blatter, says his achievements over almost 18 years – and those of Platini – should not just be conveniently ignored.
Sexwale told Sky: “I feel very sorry for him. He is a friend. I’ve spoken on the phone to Blatter and Platini, and they are leaders so they have to deal with it. They have to face their mistakes, but let’s not bury the good that they have done.”
Blatter was a driving force in taking the World Cup to South Africa in 2010 and Sexwale, a prominent member of South Africa’s bid team, added: “Blatter’s work is a monument that stands for itself. It is a mountain that cannot be moved.
“The damage done is for posterity but it is not like they’ve murdered or committed genocide. We are there to understand and carry on their good work and learn from their mistakes.”
Sexwale, who is due take part in a round-table debate with most of his fellow candidates in Brussels later this month, has added his voice to the general view that never again should two World Cups be voted on at the same time, as happened five years ago for 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar).
“On the Qatar World Cup bid, we should never have a double bid for a World Cup again.”
The former anti-apartheid activist, who has been working with FIFA for several years, also said the time had come for a black president. “All (FIFA) leaders have been white. This is a diverse world. The colonial era has passed. It would be correct for Europeans to show we have all come of age.
“I wouldn’t call European football institutionally racist because racism is a direct act, but I think it is by omission. We are all of the same world. It could be described as racist by others. To get others a chance from other continents, we need to decolonise the world. It is time to bring in a person of colour.”
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