By Andrew Warshaw
June 16 – Any move by Sepp Blatter to consider changing his mind about stepping down as FIFA president in the wake of the current corruption crisis engulfing his organisation is being firmly discouraged by Domenico Scala, the official who has emerged as the key figure in pushing through much-needed reforms.
Blatter announced his resignation earlier this month just four days after beating his sole rival Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan to win a fifth term as president.
The 79-year-old is due to leave once his replacement has been selected, expected to take place at an extraordinary congress in Zurich in December.
Scala, independent chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance body, was reacting to an article in Swiss newspaper Schweiz am Sonntag which suggested Blatter might stage another audacious u-turn, just as he did in 2011.
Blatter has received messages of support from African and Asian football associations which asked him to reconsider.
Scala made a brief statement on Sunday which read: “For me, the reforms are the central topic. That is why I think it is clearly indispensable to follow through with the initiated process of president’s change as it has been announced.”
One of the reforms Scala has recommended is three terms of a maximum 12 years for both the president and FIFA executive committee members. Blatter has already served 17 years.
One of the situations Blatter is desperate to resolve before he steps down is the Israel-Palestine impasse and it is no surprise that FIFA has appointed former South African government minister and human rights icon Tokyo Sexwale to lead the task in mending relations between the two sides in the Middle East.
At the recent FIFA Congress, the Palestinian Football Association withdrew its demand to have Israel suspended after coming under pressure from fellow associations. But only after an impassionate speech by its chairman Jibril Rajoub denouncing Israel’s behaviour in preventing free movement of Palestinian players and officials in Gaza and the West Bank.
“From his own experiences and expertise in community reconciliation and conflict resolution in South Africa, we believe Mr Sexwale is well placed to help improve access for football in the Palestinian territories,” Blatter said.
Sexwale added: “This assignment regarding the tension between Palestine and Israel is no easy walk and shall have to be approached with sensitivity and circumspection. I therefore hope that an acceptable solution shall be arrived at.”
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