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FIFA president Sepp Blatter quit his post at the helm of the governing football body this afternoon in a press conference that surprised the world.
(Copyright Valeriano Di Domenico/AFP 2015)
Barely a dozen journalists turned up in Zurich today for a hastily arranged press conference called by Blatter, who was re-elected as FIFA president last Friday on May 29. FIFA officials did not offer an agenda for the press conference but it turned out to be a landmark event.
“My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody,” said Blatter. “This is why I will call an extraordinary meeting… I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand…
“FIFA’s interest are dear to me. That’s why I have taken this decision. What counts most for me, is the institution of Fifa and football around the world.”
It was a remarkable turnaround from the 79-year-old Swiss administrator who, just last week, crowed about his successful re-election, and condemned critics as part of a plot hatched by United States and England in retaliation for their failed 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.
Ironically, former FIFA vice-president and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner might be the person who inadvertently brought him down.
Warner never delivered the “tsunami” he promised in 2011, when he was expelled from FIFA for conspiracy to rig the presidential election in favour of Qatari candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam. And the Trinidadian certainly never spoke about FIFA corrupt World Cup bidding processes, which the US Department of Justice suggested that football officials exploited to amass personal fortunes.
However, a shocking letter from the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) president Molefi Oliphant to FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke on 4 March 2008 might have been the tipping point.
The letter, which was revealed by South Africa’s Sunday Times News on May 31 and tweeted by PA journalist Martyn Ziegler, asked FIFA to pay what appeared to be a US$10 million bribe to Warner, the then CONCACAF president:
“SAFA (…) confirms that (1) FIFA shall withhold US$10 million from the Organising Committee’s future operational budget funding in order to finance the Diaspora Legacy Programme, thereby reducing the Organising Committee’s overall budget from US$423 million to US$413 million.
“(2) The Diaspora Legacy Programme shall be administered and implemented directly by the President of CONCACAF who shall act as the fiduciary of the Diaspora Legacy Programme Fund of US$10 million.”
This payment, according to the US indictment, was then made by FIFA, via a US account, to Warner’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) bank account and two accounts in Trinidad.
The letter implicated the FIFA general secretary and arguably, by extension, Blatter, who was once general secretary himself before he succeeded former president Joao Havelange in 1998.
Thus far, FIFA has denied Valcke’s involvement and instead pointed the finger at former Finance Committee chairman, Julio Grondona.
“The payments totalling $10 million were authorised by the then chairman of the finance committee,” the world governing body responded, “and executed in accordance with the organisation regulations of FIFA.”
Grondona is not expected to deny the accusation, since he died last year. But Blatter, for once, was unable to ride out the controversy.
Last Friday, the FIFA president told a large media gathering: “For the next four years, I will be in command of this boat called Fifa and we will bring it back ashore, we will bring it back to the beach.
“The age is no problem. You have people that are 50 who look old.”
Four days later, though, Blatter said a hasty goodbye to FIFA in a surprise press conference.
Domenico Scala, FIFA’s head of audit and compliance committee, told the media that an election for a new president will be held between December 2015 and March 2016. Blatter will remain as president until then.
Blatter recommended new term limits for the FIFA president and executive committee members although such suggestions would need to be ratified by the broader football membership.
“I am dedicated to putting into place the conditions for the election of a new president,” said Scala. “There will be reforms to how the elections are conducted. Under the rules governing FIFA, the election must be voted on by members at the FIFA congress.
“The president will ask the executive committee to form an extraordinary congress to elect a new president. While the timing will ultimately be up to the executive committee the timing of election likely to be between December and March.
(Courtesy Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP)
“FIFA is determined to address the issues that are afflicting FIFA. We want to fundamentally reform the way in which people see FIFA.”
In 2011, South Africa President Jacob Zuma conferred the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold to Oliphant for his role in ensuring that South Africa won the bid. It is uncertain whether the recent revelations will prompt parallel investigations within that country.
Warner, who allegedly received the bribe, continues to declare his innocence of all charges and has vowed to fight extradition.
Last week, the ILP political leader criticised the Government for not defending him against the United States authorities.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Pius Utomi Ekpei)
FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s full resignation speech:
“I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the forty years in which my life has been inextricably bound to FIFA and the great sport of football. I cherish FIFA more than anything and I want to do only what is best for FIFA and for football. I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organization. That election is over but FIFA’s challenges are not. FIFA needs a profound overhaul.
“While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football — the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA.
“Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA President until that election.
“The next ordinary FIFA Congress will take place on 13 May 2016 in Mexico City. This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the Executive Committee to organize an Extraordinary Congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity. This will need to be done in line with FIFA’s statutes and we must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign.
“Since I shall not be a candidate, and am therefore now free from the constraints that elections inevitably impose, I shall be able to focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms that transcend our previous efforts. For years, we have worked hard to put in place administrative reforms, but it is plain to me that while these must continue, they are not enough.
“The Executive Committee includes representatives of confederations over whom we have no control, but for whose actions FIFA is held responsible. We need deep-rooted structural change.
“The size of the Executive Committee must be reduced and its members should be elected through the FIFA Congress. The integrity checks for all Executive Committee members must be organised centrally through FIFA and not through the confederations. We need term limits not only for the president but for all members of the Executive Committee.
“I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone knows, my efforts have been blocked.
“This time, I will succeed.”
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I find these “America just sour, Britain just vex” conspiracy theories amusing. Sepp Blatter is a European.
Then please clarify this for me Brian TriniOne Lewis! Zurich: “Fifa on Tuesday admitted that it had processed a $10-million (Dh36.72 million) payment from South Africa to a disgraced football official but denied that the world body’s secretary-general Jerome Valcke was involved.
Fifa said that a former Fifa finance committee chief who died last year, Argentine Julio Grondona, authorised the payment to Jack Warner.
Warner, one of 14 people facing corruption charges in the United States over $150 million in bribes, was at the time Grondona’s deputy as head of Fifa’s finance committee.
The South African government asked Fifa to “withhold” money intended for the organisers of the 2010 World Cup and send it to a development project in the Caribbean run by Warner, a Fifa statement said.
According to US investigators, the $10 million was a bribe promised to Warner and his deputy Chuck Blazer to secure the 2010 World Cup. South Africa has strongly denied any wrongdoing.” What am I missing here?
FIFA was corrupt BEFORE Jack Warner and Blatter and company. This is a geopolitical move to control an entity that not only was moved from the verge of bankruptcy under Blatter – but has been allowing nations the Western World has ‘issues’ with.
For example the US demanded of Blatter that Iran not be allowed to take part in the 2006 World Cup. He refused to allow them to bully him and FIFA. The US/England do not want the World Cup to be held in Russia and also a Muslim nation (Qatar).
I fully expect the media is going to be used to justify the change away from FIFA’s One Nation/One Vote voting policy as the Euro Colonial and USA cannot control and bully under that system.
This series of events has NOTHING to do with corruption.
Another example of how racial division leads to corruption and increases economic disparity.
A man is President of a organisation and don’t know what is happening in that organisation,,,, that alone was grounds to go Blatter,,,,,,, Anil in charge of life sport and say he didn’t know ppl thieving,,,, what ah thing.
What is the “The Diaspora Legacy Programme” and does it exist?
Just wait Pedro Chin It will come.
I find it curious that Havelange name has not been even implicated in the kuchoor
I would not be surprised if Joao de Havilange passes in this rush also.. can FIFA survive this or will they have to rebrand themselves after a cleanup?
Did he quit or is he ‘set to quit’. Big difference Lasana
so dose this me mean that Luis Figo can look for a running as FIFA president or maybe Shaka Hislop?
Dead man tell no tales
Not sure how much of a part the sponsors played. I think Blatter knows he’s under investigation and his backside squeezing. Don’t be surprised if he cuts a deal like Blazer and sell out the others. The man is 79 and not prepared to pick up soap in a jail cell.
Dey press de man buttons,…
Leslie-Ann i also suspect the worldwide sponsors played a huge role in this move too, Coca-Cola, VISA etc
Steups…assuming not blabbing did not know about the alleged blatant corruption taking place under him and now there are worldwide organizations backing these charges leading one to believe its more than smoke and mirrors, then what can of manager are you (deja vu here). Further, with all these allegations swirling around fifa, people going to vote him back in? Madness!
Why waste everyone’s time and energy going up ? #theloveofpower
yep
I suspected thats why he stepped down Leslie-Ann
http://www.businessinsider.com/report-us-investigating-sepp-blatter-2015-6
Panama he goes Shiva, along with all the other politicians in TNT, watch and see
Step Ladder needs to move to a non-extradition country one time
Savitri my dear lady I was thinking the same thing as I was writing
He knew he was a target before the election. Why even go up?
Heard that this am. Not surprising – when in doubt, blame the dead guy.
“Thus far, FIFA has denied Valcke’s involvement and instead pointed the finger at former Finance Committee chairman, Julio Grondona.
“The payments totalling $10 million were authorised by the then chairman of the finance committee,” the world governing body responded, “and executed in accordance with the organisation regulations of FIFA.”
Grondona is not expected to deny the accusation, since he died last year.”
Dennis Allen and Kendall Tull: “Thus far, FIFA has denied Valcke’s involvement and instead pointed the finger at former Finance Committee chairman, Julio Grondona.
“The payments totalling $10 million were authorised by the then chairman of the finance committee,” the world governing body responded, “and executed in accordance with the organisation regulations of FIFA.”
Grondona is not expect to deny the accusation, since he died last year.”
Oh geed… Jack you could ah hold it back a few more days…
Jack go dead if he ever go to the U.S. And face ah trial eh…ah not wishing it on him
And Daryan and Daryll Warner are singing: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20150602/news/warner-brothers-spill-the-beans
Exactly Lasana. The letter isn’t enough and absent someone singing like a canary, that will be hard to prove. And I still think at best, it implicates Valcke, not Blatter. Definitely something more in the mortar than the pestle for sure.
“Some ppl have no shame”….”It’s better to leave with grace than resign with disgrace…!!!”
thank god
Wow.
And they better hope they have some policy documents from the supposed Diaspora Programme. Something better than Warner saying: send funds here…
If not, Good luck to them with their defence!
If they can show proper documentation and proposal about Diaspora Programme from in 2008 and so forth, then they might have a shot at beating it.
If the programme only existed in an email and fax with the money going to Warner’s bank account… Good luck to them with that!
yes, a LOT will come out in those hearings, as the USDOJ will have already played their card—it will be the turn for the accused to play their defense.
We will see once Webb loses his extradition battle Dennis Allen. I’m not sure if they can be held. But I’m not sure they are clear either. Time will tell.
Chuck Blazer was FIFA general secretary during the US 1994 World Cup. Let’s see.
Okay Kendall Tull. I accept that point in terms of the implementation of the programme. I would say that there should still be a responsibility from two organisations that agreed to make a US$10 million to find out.
And what proof can they show of such intent?
The letter is likely just part.
EXACTLY Kendall Tull. the mere fact that neither Sepp nor Valcke have been detained anywhere is instructive. bottom line—the US case is built around the money, and the ultimate responsibility over the big money wine in FIFA are those two men.
Well done Mr. Liburd!
That is also why wilful ignorance will be difficult to prove.
Read the letter over and it says the funds were to implement the programme. That means that I expected you to start the programme and you didn’t. You can say that the letter proves misappropriation but not fraud.
Well, the letter surfaced after his reelection Kendall Tull. That’s why I think it made a difference.
If I work for you and I make a $100 payment to Kenneth to put in a fund that doesn’t exist. You say Kenneth is guilty unless there is proof that I knew.
Kendall, what I’m saying is there is a precedent in US law that says I have to justify making that payment and prove that I wasn’t wilfully ignorant to the fact that Kenneth’s company didn’t exist.
That might explain why no action against Valcke had been taken thus far.
i still going through the indictments doh…LOTS of pages :/
i read the story, yes. the beneficiary is a US acct, the PAYEE is not. the law cannot stretch outside of it’s jurisdiction. they will lose that case if they try to go after him for that in a US court.
the payee acct is in Zurich, not so? If that is the case, then the payee is in violation under Swiss jurisdiction. The FBI could dance it however they want—unless the Swiss go after him, Valcke will have no case to answer to in his extradition.
You are deliberately missing the point Lasana. The letter definitely proves misappropriation by Warner. Proving fraud requires more as intent by both parties has to be proven. Unless Warner rolls over, that isn’t possible from just the letter.
Not saying that that it wasn’t a bribe, just that the letter alone isn’t proof of that.
Dennis Allen and Kendall Tull, I am guided by the US attorney general who said the US has jurisdiction over a crime that was committed through its financial institution.
FIFA paid that bribe through a US account. You read the story Dennis?