UN reviewing partnerships with corruption-tainted FIFA

The UN and FIFA have tie-ups, for example, to promote health, gender equality and for child protection


Afp May 28, 2015
A cloud is seen above the headquarters of international soccer's top body FIFA, on May 27, 2015 in Zurich. PHOTO: AFP

UNITED NATIONS, UNITED STATES: A day after the US  arrested FIFA officials for alleged corruption, United Nations said it was reviewing its partnerships with the football's world governing body.

"We are very much taking a look at the existing partnerships," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The UN and FIFA have tie-ups, for example, to promote health, gender equality and for child protection.

Earlier, UEFA president Michel Platini confronted FIFA leader Sepp Blatter at an emergency meeting of football chiefs on Thursday and said he called on him to stand down because of corruption scandals engulfing world football.

Read: Creative activism: Artists speak out against FIFA sponsors

Blatter refused and Platini made a public appeal at a press conference for member nations from around the world to vote against Blatter for the FIFA presidency in an election Friday.

On Wednesday, the US Justice Department announced conspiracy and corruption charges against nine FIFA officials and five business executives on Wednesday, after Swiss authorities arrested seven suspects based on the indictments.

Read: World soccer rocked as top officials held in US Swiss graft case

The 14 officials and executives were charged with a bribery and kickback scheme that spanned a 24-year period.

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