By Andrew Warshaw
June 29 – Dominico Scala, independent chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, has said that the time for playing the politics of the media is over, as FIFA prioritises its reform agenda and prepares for a change of leadership.
“The times of flirting with the power are definitely gone,” Scala said in a statement. “I call on all concerned – including Mr Blatter – to endorse in the interest of the reforms unequivocally the announced changing of the guard at the top of FIFA.”
Blatter announced on June 2 that he would be stepping down at an extraordinary congress to be held sometime between December and March as a result of the corruption crisis that has engulfed FIFA. But since that speech, Blatter has caused some consternation by comments in a series of interviews in Switzerland. In his latest, he was quoted as saying: “I have not resigned, I put my mandate in the hands of an extraordinary congress.”
That led to speculation that he might actually throw his hat into the ring again, leading to immediate intervention by Scala, who urged him to stick by his original decision to help bring about lasting reform.
Exactly when the elections are held should be decided on July 20 but it is looking likely that it could be early next year rather than in late December to avoid a clash with the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
Much has been made of the behind-the-scenes tension between Blatter, keen to save face and pacify supporters in Africa and Asia, and Scala, who is determined to ensure a clean, transparent election process.
Scala appears uncomfortable with the hints emanating from the Blatter camp. While he wants to wipe the slate clean, Blatter is anxious to be a part of any reform process so that he can leave with a legacy he can say he helped bring about.
In the meantime, much interest still centres on whether Blatter will attend the women’s World Cup final in Canada later this week. FIFA has previously said that either Blatter or general secretary Jerome Valcke will attend the final but neither has been confirmed.
The obvious question is over whether the FBI would exert their influence in Canada and lift either Blatter or Valcke for questioning, even though there are no criminal charges against either. With trust of the FBI and its operational procedures at zero level it seems likely to be viewed as too great a risk to take unless there was a guarantee on the table that they would be allowed to attend the final and subsequently return to Switzerland.
Both Blatter and Valcke are expected to attend the draw for the qualification rounds of the 2018 World Cup in St Petersburg on July 23.
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