By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
May 28 – A defiant Sepp Blatter opened arguably the most tension-filled congress of his 17 years in charge of FIFA with a rallying cry clearly designed to sway any wavering voters his way after a tumultuous 48 hours in the history or world football’s governing body.
Having earlier in the day refused to step down when confronted by UEFA president Michel Platini, Blatter told delegates that no stone would be left unturned to try and put FIFA back on the right track.
Although much of the rhetoric had been heard before, this was a sterner, more resolute Blatter who, although expected to clinch a fifth term of office on Friday, needs to convince his growing numbers of critics that he is still the right man for the job and can be trusted.
Referring to the back-to-back corruption cases that struck at the heart of FIFA on Wednesday, Blatter said in his welcome address that was apparently fine-tuned right up until the last moment: “These are unprecedented and difficult times for FIFA. The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football and over this week’s Congress.
“Actions of individuals who bring shame and humiliation of football and demand action and change from us all. We cannot allow the reputation of football and FIFA to be dragged through the mud any longer. It has to stop here and now.
“I will not allow the actions of a few to destroy the hard work and integrity of the vast majority of those who work so hard for football. Those who are corrupt in football are in a minority…but like in society they must be caught and held responsible for their actions. Football cannot be the exception to the rule.”
Blatter has frequently deflected blame away from himself in the past but this evening, with so many people calling for his head, he addressed that very issue head-on.
“I know many people hold me ultimately responsible for the actions and reputation of the global football community, whether it’s a decision on hosting the World Cup or corruption scandals. We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will try to hide it.
“We will cooperate with all the authorities to make sure anyone involved in wrongdoing, from top to bottom, is discovered and punished. There can be no place for corruption of any kind.”
Looking ahead, Blatter talked of another bid for genuine reform. “The next few months will not be easy for FIFA. I am sure more bad news will follow but it is necessary to begin to restore trust in our organisation. More needs to be done to make sure everyone in football behaves responsibly both inside and outside the field the play where there is no referee and no time limit. Football deserves so much more and we must respond.
“Tomorrow we have the opportunity to begin on what will be a long and difficult road to regaining trust. We have lost that trust at least part of it and we must now earn it back. We must earn it back through the decisions we make, through our expectations in each other and the way we behave individually.”
The opening ceremony, in front of delegates from the 209 member associations, was also attended by the Swiss Sports Minister Ueli Maurer and Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee.
Usually government officials whose countries host FIFA congresses wax lyrical about the organisation but Swiss Sports Minister Ueli Maurer pulled no punches in addressing the twin corruption cases that crashed down on FIFA’s head this week.
“Switzerland strongly condemns any form of corruption. We believe firmly in fairness and fair play,” he said. “The world of sport and the public authorities must work together to ensure that the highest standards of good governance in sport are firmly upheld.
“FIFA has problems. Yesterday will go down as a good day in FIFA’s history only if the organisation uses it as an opportunity to finally put its house in order and create transparency. Football should provide role models but FIFA does not fulfil that role at the present time.”
Outside, a protest by a noisy throng of Palestinian sympathisers flying the national flag was a timely offered a reminder of another contentious item on the congress agenda as well as the presidential election when Blatter goes head to head with Jordan’s Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan: the demand for Israel to be suspended from world football.
The real business is of course tomorrow and a few hours before Blatter’s speech, UEFA announced it would not be staging a boycott as had been rumoured since there were too many items of the agenda it wants to participate in.
A more emotional Michel Platini than usual revealed that he had personally asked Blatter to resign at a meeting of FIFA’s emergency committee earlier in the day but that the 79-year-old Swiss had declined.
“Enough is enough,” said Platini. “I have great affection for Sepp but FIFA’s image is not good. If I cannot tell him it is time to stop then who can? A true friend can tell another friend the reality.
“Too much is too much. In terms of our image it’s not good at all. I am the first one to be disgusted by this. I said, I’m asking you to leave, FIFA’s image is terrible. He said that he couldn’t leave all of a sudden. I’m saying this with sadness and tears in my eyes, but there have been too many scandals and FIFA doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.”
Dutch FA president, Michael van Praag, who stood as a challenger to Blatter but pulled out late on, said Prince Ali had told him that he believed he had at least 60 supporters outside Europe. Much depends on how much successful lobbying the outgoing FIFA vice-president can do in the remaining time between now and the ballot itself.
Asked if he realistically believed that Blatter could lose Friday’s vote, Platini replied: “I think he can be beaten, yes. Before yesterday no, but after what happened yesterday, yes. Enough is enough. I think there will be a lot of changes.
“I am the first one to be disgusted by this (FIFA corruption). I have stomach trouble when I think about the FIFA problem. I am a great admirer of FIFA and I’ve followed it for some years, but I don’t know where to put myself. I get the impression that if FIFA is not going to do anything, the FBI will do it for them.”
Platini said he anticipated a minimum 45 or 46 of Europe’s eligible 53 voting nations would vote for Prince Ali, not enough to topple Blatter but enough to send a strong message of disapproval – provided other confederations from outside Europe voted the same way.
At one point, Platini half-suggested UEFA could withdraw from FIFA if real changes are not brought in, and brought in soon, if Blatter wins. At any event, UEFA’s members would consider how to react to his likely re-election when they meet in emergency session on June 6 at the Champions League final in Berlin, with some kind of revolution in the wind.
“It will be an important discussion,” said Platini.
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