July 9 – Another interview by Sepp Blatter. Another passionate defence of his record and that of FIFA. This time, the embattled Swiss has blamed FIFA’s individual confederations for the corruption scandal that has rocked his organisation and led to him deciding to step down.
On the day one of his former exco members, former CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer, was banned for life by FIFA, Blatter insisted neither he nor his organisation could be held responsible for the misdemeanours perpetrated by others.
Responding to the 14 sports officials, including several high up in FIFA, being indicted by the FBI on bribery, money laundering and wire fraud charges, Blatter said: “Our influence over contracts concluded by the confederations is practically zero. We can only control our own cash flows. And we have a model financial control.”
But he admitted he was particularly taken aback by the arrest of CONCACAF chief Jeffrey Webb. “That , frankly, shocked me. He is also the boss of our anti-racism authority.”
Seven of those accused were arrested by Swiss police in a dawn raid on a luxury Zurich hotel two days before the FIFA Congress, where Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as president. They are in custody awaiting extradition to the US.
Blatter told Weltwoche he intended to carry out his decision to leave FIFA even if the extraordinary congress soon to be called to choose a successor asks him to stay on.
Suggesting his critics were simply envious of his position, he declared: “This envy has been festering for years. Envy is a predicate to jealousy. And jealousy is rooted in love. This can however turn to hate. And that’s what happened when this tsunami hit us two days before the congress.”
Media insinuations that he is corrupt were angrily rejected. Quizzed about why didn’t do more to prevent any wrongdoing within his organization, Blatter answered sarcastically. “I not only see everything, I’m responsible for everything, even for the English women’s own goal at the World Cup recently.”
Blatter also used the opportunity to denounce UEFA for ganging up against him at the recent presidential election. Some in Europe broke ranks and voted for him and Blatter said: “Not all Europeans are infected with the anti-FIFA virus, but surely the camp in Nyon is.”
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