Defiant soccer chief Blatter resists calls to resign amid scandal

[webfact]

Defiant soccer chief resists calls to resign amid scandal
By GRAHAM DUNBAR

ZURICH (AP) — As defiant as ever, Sepp Blatter resisted calls to resign as FIFA president Thursday and deflected blame for the massive bribery and corruption scandal engulfing soccer's world governing body.

"We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all of the time," Blatter said in his first public remarks on the crisis that has further tainted his leadership on the eve of his bid for a fifth term as president.

The 79-year-old Blatter insisted he could restore trust in world soccer after a pair of corruption investigations brought "shame and humiliation" on his organization and the world's most popular sport.

"We cannot allow the reputation of football and FIFA to be dragged through the mud any longer," he said. "It has to stop here and now."

Despite a tide of criticism and pressure on him to leave, Blatter is moving ahead with a presidential election Friday that is likely to bring him another four years in office as one of them most powerful men in sports.

"The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football," he said, his voice shaky at times, in a speech to open FIFA's two-day congress. "There can be no place for corruption of any kind."

Blatter refused to back down after European soccer body UEFA demanded earlier Thursday that he quit following the latest — and most serious allegations — to discredit FIFA during his 17 years in office.

"Enough is enough," UEFA President Michel Platini said. "People no longer want him anymore and I don't want him anymore either."

Platini met privately with Blatter and asked him to go.

"I am asking you to leave FIFA, to step down because you are giving FIFA a terrible image," Platini said he told Blatter. "In terms of our image, it is not good at all and I am the first one to be disgusted by this."

Blatter, who is expected to win Friday's election against Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, is coming under increasing scrutiny amid U.S. and Swiss federal investigations into high-level corruption tearing at FIFA.

A U.S. Justice Department investigation accused 14 international soccer officials or sports marketing executives of bribery, racketeering, fraud and money-laundering over two decades in connection with marketing rights worth hundreds of millions of dollars awarded for tournaments in North and South America. Seven officials — including two FIFA vice presidents and members of its finance committee — remained in custody in Zurich on Thursday. Blatter was not implicated in the indictment.

In addition, Swiss officials are investigating the FIFA votes that sent the World Cup tournament to Russia in 2018 and to Qatar in 2022. Both decisions were marred by allegations of wrongdoing.

One of FIFA's major sponsors, Visa, warned Thursday that it could pull out of its contract, which is worth at least $25 million a year through 2022.

Visa urged FIFA "to take swift and immediate steps to address these issues within its organization."

While acknowledging that many people hold him responsible for FIFA's tattered image, Blatter blamed the "actions of individuals" for harming the organization.

"If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it," he said. "I will not allow the actions of a few to destroy the hard work and integrity of the vast majority of those who work so hard for football."

Blatter said the crisis could mark a "turning point" for FIFA to clean itself up.

"We will cooperate with all authorities to make sure anyone involved in wrongdoing, from top to bottom, is discovered and punished," he said. "There can be no place for corruption of any kind. The next few months will not be easy for FIFA. I'm sure more bad news will follow. But it is necessary to begin to restore trust in our organization."

Referring to Friday's election, Blatter said: "We have the opportunity to begin on what will be a long and difficult road to rebuilding trust. We have lost their trust, at least a part of it, and we must now earn it back."

The seven soccer officials, including Jeffrey Webb, president of the North and Central American and Caribbean regional body known as CONCACAF, were arrested in a police raid on a luxury Zurich hotel early Wednesday. They are fighting extradition to the United States.

Defendants named in the indictment face up to 20 years in prison and their questioning could reveal further evidence that leads back to Blatter's Zurich-based organization. Webb was a member of FIFA's audit committee more than a decade ago.

Swiss investigators began questioning 10 of Blatter's colleagues on the FIFA executive committee from 2010 that chose Russia and Qatar as the next two World Cup hosts.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said Blatter and FIFA can learn from the way the Olympic body cleaned itself up after the vote-buying scandal involving Salt Lake City's winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games.

Bach urged Blatter — who is also an IOC member — to "take all necessary measures" following the U.S. and Swiss corruption investigations, adding: "In the IOC we know from experience 15 years ago that this fight is challenging and painful."

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said he supported the idea of delaying the FIFA election, given the current corruption scandal and told France-Inter radio, "There have been accusations of corruption for years."

But Russian President Vladimir Putin came to the defense of Blatter and FIFA, accusing the U.S. of meddling in soccer's internal affairs and hinting it was part of an attempt to take the 2018 World Cup away from his country.

"Our American counterparts, unfortunately, are using the same methods to reach their goals and illegally persecute people," Putin said in a TV interview, comparing the case to those of whistleblowers Julian Assange and Edward Snowden.

"I have no doubt that this is yet another evident attempt to derail Mr. Blatter's re-election as FIFA president," Putin said.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-05-29

[NongKhaiKid]

Blatter has been running Fifa as his personal Kingdom for years , has denied so many times that anything is wrong and has done all he can to prevent the truth being exposed.

Serious brown stuff hits the fan but he knows nothing and can't be held responsible.

He's speaking about the shame brought on the game now but what does he know of shame, he has none !

[RickBradford]

Blatter is clearly a Class A sociopath, unable to relate to normal people and normal behaviour in any way.

Sociopaths are often successful, as they believe themselves to always be right, and are always manipulating people around them; they view the world with themselves at the centre, and other people as simply either being For or Against them. They are usually very plausible and persuasive, as they have learnt how to manipulate others, may have surface charm, but are usually total sh*ts as well.

Blatter's extraordinary statement that he is the ideal person to take FIFA forward past the shame of corruption shows his sociopathy in a very strong light -- even fellow sociopaths like Bernie Ecclestone and Silvio Berlusconi might have hesitated to come out with statements like that.

[NongKhaiKid]

Blatter is clearly a Class A sociopath, unable to relate to normal people and normal behaviour in any way.

Sociopaths are often successful, as they believe themselves to always be right, and are always manipulating people around them; they view the world with themselves at the centre, and other people as simply either being For or Against them. They are usually very plausible and persuasive, as they have learnt how to manipulate others, may have surface charm, but are usually total sh*ts as well.

Blatter's extraordinary statement that he is the ideal person to take FIFA forward past the shame of corruption shows his sociopathy in a very strong light -- even fellow sociopaths like Bernie Ecclestone and Silvio Berlusconi might have hesitated to come out with statements like that.

Great Post, thanks !

[boomerangutang]

Blatter is clearly a Class A sociopath, unable to relate to normal people and normal behaviour in any way.

Sociopaths are often successful, as they believe themselves to always be right, and are always manipulating people around them; they view the world with themselves at the centre, and other people as simply either being For or Against them. They are usually very plausible and persuasive, as they have learnt how to manipulate others, may have surface charm, but are usually total sh*ts as well.

Blatter's extraordinary statement that he is the ideal person to take FIFA forward past the shame of corruption shows his sociopathy in a very strong light -- even fellow sociopaths like Bernie Ecclestone and Silvio Berlusconi might have hesitated to come out with statements like that.

So, have I ever been wrong about anything? Huh?

Seriously tho, Thaksin comes to mind - he is genetically incapable of ever admitting he made a mistake.

[Tatsujin]

Talk about head in the sand and refusing to accept reality ... sounds like a few people I know here. The know nothing, did nothing wrong, I'm wonderful, why don't you love me anymore type ... resign and let's clear up the sport a little ... please!

[sdanielmcev]

"We gotta protect our phoney-baloney jobs!" Mel Brooks

[shaurene]

What the authorities need to do is to find out where his millions came from. It is well worth it for country's to pay a bribe to get the World Cup and other events. It is about time some one checked this group out.

[RickBradford]

What the authorities need to do is to find out where his millions came from. It is well worth it for country's to pay a bribe to get the World Cup and other events. It is about time some one checked this group out.

FIFA controls the TV, marketing and other rights revenue from the World Cups, which in 2014 amounted to US$4 billion.

It is child's play to divert small amounts of this to worthy causes, such as ensuring Blatter gets re-elected to the FIFA Presidency.

The FIFA presidential election is held today, and though it beggars belief, Blatter is the odds-on favourite to win.

[billphillips]

I know little about football. I do know that before fifa the game was enjoyed by many. FIFA has bought shame and disrespect to the game. It begs the question; does the game need or want fifa.

The old man that heads fifa States that he can't be responsible for, what amounts to, his staff. If so, what does he hold responsibility for? He sure doesn't do any work.

[Thaddeus]

More of a dream that a prediction, the 2022 World Cup will not take place in a hot sand pit, and it will not be controlled by FIFA.

[natway09]

Mr Blatter, ever heard of "the buck stops here". As the FIFA boss you must take full responsibility .

I sincerely hope that he does NOT get out of this "smelling like roses"

[enuff said]

.

Just wait until those already arrested start singing. They'd sell their mothers up the river to save their own skins.

enuff said

~

[Steely Dan]

This has come during a year when scandals from the past have finally caught up with those guilty, whether it be sex or financial scandals. I'm not sure as to why this is but everything seems to be seeing the light of day all at once when for years we were left with open secrets buried by the threat of lawsuits for libel.

[smedly]

What the authorities need to do is to find out where his millions came from. It is well worth it for country's to pay a bribe to get the World Cup and other events. It is about time some one checked this group out.

FIFA controls the TV, marketing and other rights revenue from the World Cups, which in 2014 amounted to US$4 billion.

It is child's play to divert small amounts of this to worthy causes, such as ensuring Blatter gets re-elected to the FIFA Presidency.

The FIFA presidential election is held today, and though it beggars belief, Blatter is the odds-on favourite to win.

well just like every other vote in this corrupt ridden association - it is bought and paid for

Blatter - It's a great position to be in - responsible but with no responsibility or accountability

[Lokie]

Blatter will be re-elected as FIFA presedent as it has already been paid for (Africa/South America/SE Asia) EUEFA have publicy come out and said openly enough is enough but alas the confederations mentioned have all been well greased and know which hand feeds them - Done deal

Also shown on Beeb world news and other sources the voting is well satcked eg: Caymen islands (pop 58,000) gets 1 vote, Brazil (pop 20million) also gets 1 vote? Lol, as usual money talks.

As me Ol' Granny would say; Sebb Blatter? Bent as a 9 bob note!

[Chicog]

He's been on stage talking about the fight against, among other things, discrimination.


Yes, the bloke who said women's football would be more interesting if they wore tight shorts.

[thaibeachlovers]

Thank the deity that I loathe soccer, They haven't got one brass farthing out of me.

[Jonmarleesco]

The old goat's a little late with his damage control speech. Given the decades he has spent sitting in front of the fan, the shit generator must have been stuck in reverse.

[Nickymaster]

Blatter will survive because corrupt countries will always vote for this corrupt guy.

Edited May 29, 2015 by Nickymaster

[Chicog]

...And he has, Prince Ali has pulled out.

[Basil B]

Funny how Sepp was 7 votes short of the 2/3 majority when seven delegates could not attend due to being held by the police...

[Thaddeus]

...And he has, Prince Ali has pulled out.

No great surprise there, who would want to be king turd of the cesspit.

[puck2]

Blatter will survive because corrupt countries will always vote for this corrupt guy.

In a German gazette I saw an appropriate name for this organisation ->

Ma-Fi(f)a

Edited May 30, 2015 by puck2

[geriatrickid]

It will be up to the Europeans and North Americans, along with a few of the honest Latin America and Asian countries to make a stand. Time to let UEFA do what it needs to do and to support the FA when it refuses to go to Qatar.

Unless Putin changes his position on the Ukraine, I would expect many EU countries will not be going to the Russian hosted series either.

[samuibeachcomber]

Blatter has been running Fifa as his personal Kingdom for years , has denied so many times that anything is wrong and has done all he can to prevent the truth being exposed.

Serious brown stuff hits the fan but he knows nothing and can't be held responsible.

He's speaking about the shame brought on the game now but what does he know of shame, he has none !

so f..king right nongkhaikid!.........he has no shame,he stands up saying "it is not my fault,i knew nothing"..lying through his teeth as usual.He may have won the battle but he will lose the war.

[samuibeachcomber]

More of a dream that a prediction, the 2022 World Cup will not take place in a hot sand pit, and it will not be controlled by FIFA.

I really hope so.

[samuibeachcomber]

This has come during a year when scandals from the past have finally caught up with those guilty, whether it be sex or financial scandals. I'm not sure as to why this is but everything seems to be seeing the light of day all at once when for years we were left with open secrets buried by the threat of lawsuits for libel.

It's the law of nature "what goes round comes round"

[sirineou]

Blatter is clearly a Class A sociopath, unable to relate to normal people and normal behaviour in any way.

Sociopaths are often successful, as they believe themselves to always be right, and are always manipulating people around them; they view the world with themselves at the centre, and other people as simply either being For or Against them. They are usually very plausible and persuasive, as they have learnt how to manipulate others, may have surface charm, but are usually total sh*ts as well.

Blatter's extraordinary statement that he is the ideal person to take FIFA forward past the shame of corruption shows his sociopathy in a very strong light -- even fellow sociopaths like Bernie Ecclestone and Silvio Berlusconi might have hesitated to come out with statements like that.

So, have I ever been wrong about anything? Huh?

Seriously tho, Thaksin comes to mind - he is genetically incapable of ever admitting he made a mistake.

Wonderful how you can work Thaksin in any subject

also wonderful how you can associate Thaskin as a "Class A sociopath"

For being incapable of admitting he bade a mistake while you claim

"So, have I ever been wrong about anything? Huh?"

Where are the Mods i

[Scott]

The mods are here.

Get back on topic and stay there. It isn't about Thaksin.