Extraordinary breaking news this morning from Zurich where police officials have made arrests on what will eventually be up to ten high ranking officials of FIFA, including members of the governing Executive Committee.
Swiss police are reported to have entered the reception area of the exclusive Baur au Lac hotel where football’s governing body is gathered for meetings this week. They culminate this Friday with a vote on whether Sepp Blatter is returned for a fifth term as President.
FAI Chief Executive John Delaney is a very shrewd political operator and his comments yesterday that the FAI would not be supporting Blatter raised eyebrows in their strength and condemnation about the damage his continued Presidency could attach to the brand of world soccer.
He suggested that his ‘personal friend’ Michel Platini, Head of UEFA would make a very good replacement though he has not been a candidate for this election, at least until now.
Extradition
The arrests are being reported in the New York Times as including wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering and extradition to the United States is believed to be in process as we write for the officials.
The case is being led by US Attorney General Loretta Lynch who had led an investigation of FIFA in her previous role in Brooklyn,
A law enforcement official is quoted in the New York Times as saying “We’re struck by just how long this went on for and how it touched nearly every part of what FIFA did. It just seemed to permeate every element of the federation and was just their way of doing business. It seems like this corruption was institutionalized.”
Until now Blatter has proved immune to widespread intimation of corruption and to grassroots campaigns to clean up the sport. He has overseen a massive explosion of financial investment in the sport, through events, television and media rights and sponsorship and that has secured enough of an ongoing support among national associations to maintain a strong grip on the levers of power.
Compression brand Skins who have sponsorship interest here with the GAA have led a vociferous campaign to oust the leadership and return soccer to being what they see as a fairly run organisation.
Shockwaves
There has been no comment yet from FIFA about whether this week’s meeting and vote will carry on as scheduled but the arrests will send immense shockwaves through the sport and the organisations who have at least until now seen the benefit of association with the world’s most popular sport as outweighing the potential reputation damage of being associated with Blatter.
As it stands the only candidate standing against Blatter is Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan
Delaney is not the first football official to come out against Blatter but the timing of his interview with the BBC could be seen as inspired given this morning’s news.
In it he says “Regardless of the good he claims to have done during his tenure, he has to recognise that Fifa has an incredibly bad brand image. If he was doing the right thing by football, which he says he cares about and loves, then he should step aside and let somebody else come forward and improve the image of the world game.
“Blatter has had a hell of a run at it. But surely he knows, in his private moments, he must know, that outside of the voting chambers that the world, the football public, the players and supporters want change. We won’t be voting for him.”
