By Andrew Warshaw in Sao Paulo
June 11 – Sepp Blatter’s declared intention to run for FIFA president for the fifth time crashed against a rock of European hostility and indignation today as UEFA took a united stand by telling the 78-year-old Swiss to his face it was time to step down as a result of the organisation’s tarnished image.
Blatter had spent a second day visiting FIFA’s various individual confederations to gauge support, invariably receiving standing ovations and widespread acclamation.
But when he rounded off his appearances at a private gathering of UEFA’s 54 member federations, he found a very different atmosphere as delegates openly challenged not only his apparent u-turn but also his highly charged accusations that British reports of alleged corruption in the 2022 World Cup bidding process were driven by racism.
Instead of receiving unqualified backing, as he had done earlier in the day at both the CONCACAF and Oceania Congresses, Blatter quickly discovered that UEFA were not prepared to overlook FIFA’s shortcomings.
This time it was Dutch federation president Michael van Praag, a key member of UEFA’s executive committee, who received handclaps for openly challenging Blatter.
Afterwards, van Praag, who many are tipping to be a presidential candidate himself, was presented to the media along with several of his colleagues in a football-style mixed zone scenario.
Van Praag told Blatter to his face that he had had to take responsibility for FIFA’s tainted reputation. “FIFA’s image has deteriorated because of everything that’s happened in recent years,” Van Praag said. “Personally I like Blatter very much. I took the floor and said ‘this is nothing personal but if you look at the reputation FIFA has built over the last seven or eight years, with accusations of corruptions, bribery and all kinds of old boys network things, FIFA has an executive president and that means you are responsible’.”
“All these problems occurred when you were president so I believe that you should not run any more.”
Van Praag acknowledged that Blatter had led FIFA’s much-touted reform process but added: “People have tended not to take Blatter seriously any more which is not good for the game, not good for FIFA and not good for the world. He certainly didn’t get a standing ovation from us.”
Without any alternative candidate – UEFA president Michel Platini will not announce until September or October whether he will stand – UEFA are once again in danger of being dubbed pariahs with the rest of the world against them. But as the strongest FIFA confederation, it was an unpredeceted unofficial vote of no confidence. “If Michel Platini does not run, in my opinion UEFA should promote another candidate,” said van Praag.
He and others were particularly unhappy with Blatter’s racism comments following the Sunday Times allegations into Qatar’s winning 2022 World Cup bid and the role of former Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam.
English FA chairman Greg Dyke took Blatter to task over his outspoken attack on UK media coverage.
The Qataris have denied any wrongdoing as a two-year investigation by FIFA’s ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia, due to address congress on Wednesday draws to a close.
“What Mr Blatter said on Monday I found offensive so I said: ‘Could I say I found the term racist as totally unacceptable,” Dyke told a posse of reporters. “The allegations being made have nothing to do with racism. They are allegations about corruption in FIFA. They need to be properly investigated and properly answered.
“We need to know from Mr Garcia whether he was aware of the material in The Sunday Times before it was published and, if not, whether he will extend his investigation to consider these allegations. Many of us are deeply troubled by your reaction to these allegations. It’s time to stop attacking the messenger and understand the message.”
David Gill, the former Manchester United chief executive and among the newest of UEFA’s big hitters, described Blatter’s reaction to the Sunday Times allegations as “totally unacceptable”.
“To portray allegations that should at least be investigated as racist is indefensible,” said Gill. Asked whether he thought Blatter should step down next year, Gill added: “Personally, yes. I think we need to move on.”
UEFA’s growing unhappiness was also expressed by German FA president Wolfgang Niersbach and Norway’s executive committee member Karen Espelund, UEFA’s top female official.
Espelund described Blatter’s reaction to latest corruption allegations as “ridiculous.” She, too, called for change at the top. “We are just starting the World Cup – yet we are not talking about football,” she said.
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