Corruption controversy: Tears, horror and outrage overshadow FIFA elections

A tearful UEFA President Platini informed reporters he asked Blatter to step down

ZURICH:

UEFA President Michel Platini, in an emotional and animated speech, said it was time for Sepp Blatter to quit as president of FIFA with the world football governing body facing yet another corruption crisis.

The Frenchman said he hoped that at least 45 or 46 of Europe’s eligible 53 voting nations would vote for Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin alHussein in Friday’s presidential election against Blatter, who is standing for a fifth term as president. While those votes would not be enough to topple Blatter on their own, it would send a strong signal of disapproval from the European contingent.

Platini also suggested UEFA could withdraw from FIFA if huge changes are not brought into the governing body but also admitted he faces something of a crisis of his own. David Gill of England, who is joining the FIFA executive committee as the British vice-president, has said he will not take up his seat if Blatter is re-elected. Platini said he hoped he could persuade Gill to change his mind over the next few weeks.

Platini, one of the greatest footballers of all time, said he began his long relationship with Blatter in 1998 — by which time the midfielder had swapped his France shirt to become the organiser of the 1998 World Cup in France. “I have affection for Blatter, and he always said he was like an uncle to me. But enough is enough,” said the UEFA president. “If I cannot tell him it is time to stop then who can? A true friend can tell another friend the reality.”

Platini also revealed that during an emergency committee meeting at FIFA earlier on Thursday, he had told Blatter to step down. “I said, I’m asking you to leave, FIFA’s image is terrible. He replied that he couldn’t leave all of a sudden,” added Platini. “I’m saying this with sadness and tears in my eyes, but there have been too many scandals, FIFA doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.”

Backing Prince Ali

Platini, who decided last August to stand for re-election as UEFA president rather than run for the FIFA presidency, originally was a close ally of Blatter. However, he was now fulsome in his support of Prince Ali, who is the only candidate opposing Blatter in the elections. “Prince Ali has all the legitimacy he needs, he is young, he is ambitious and that is why I support him, he can do some good, he can change things,” Platini told reporters at a news conference. “A very large majority of national associations from Europe will vote for Prince Ali, and if they are to be trusted I believe he will get 45 or 46 votes from Europe. I’m trying to convince a couple who are not convinced.”

Platini said he was “disgusted” and “sickened” by the corruption allegations on FIFA. PHOTO: AFP

FIFA’s 209 members will vote on Friday with a two-thirds majority needed to win on the first ballot. If that does not happen, then a straight majority is required to win a second ballot. “I think he [Blatter] can be beaten,” added Platini. “Before Wednesday no, but after what happened Wednesday, yes. Enough is enough. I think there will be a lot of changes.”

On Wednesday police officers arrested seven FIFA officials in Zurich on corruption charges while authorities in the United States issued proceedings against 18 others involved in alleged corruption involving FIFA matters. “I am a great admirer of FIFA and I’ve followed it for some years, but I don’t know where to put myself. I get the impression that if FIFA is not going to do anything, the FBI will do it for them,” warned the 59-year-old.

Europe may boycott World Cup if spots compromised

Platini added that UEFA’s members will consider their future position with FIFA on June 6 at the Champions League final in Berlin, one week after the dust settles. He said that he did not wish a European boycott of the World Cup, but warned that decreasing Europe’s current total of 13 places at the 32-team tournament is a line that should not to be crossed. “President Blatter is playing with the World Cup slots, so everyone is nervous. I have an iron-clad mandate from all European associations and our number of slots in the World Cup is a red line that should not be crossed,” he said. “Europe will not lose a slot in 2018 or 2022; we will stick to 13. That will not be changed, we are not going to allow that.”  

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th,  2015.

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