Key questions: Why did Blatter resign and what now for FIFA?

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Key questions: Why did Blatter resign and what now for FIFA?
By ROB HARRIS

LONDON (AP) — Sepp Blatter and his mentor Joao Havelange have run global's soccer's governing body since 1974, handing out power to national federations and regional chiefs who awarded the men with loyalty.

All that could change in the next few months, as a scandal-plagued Blatter calls for a new election that will influence everything from how the organization is run to how it deals with sponsors, broadcasters, federations, leagues, clubs, players and agents.

Here are some key questions about what happened since last week's U.S. indictments of FIFA officials and what will happen next.

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Q: Why did Blatter change his mind and resign, just four days after he was elected to a fifth term in a 133-73 vote over Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan?

A: Blatter's explanation was the did not "have a mandate from the entire world of football — the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football."

Blatter defiantly brushed aside any criticism when he was re-elected Friday, amid the gravest crisis in FIFA's history. After the arrest of former, current and future members of his executive committee, Blatter criticized U.S. authorities and the British media for pursing an anti-FIFA agenda.

The opening days of Blatter's fifth term saw no respite in the corruption crisis.

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Q: What does Blatter expect to come out of the criminal investigations?

A: U.S. authorities say additional charges against soccer officials can be expected.

The New York Times and ABC News reported Blatter himself was under investigation by the FBI.

The Justice Department's public assertions the investigation is ongoing "telegraphs that there are other people in their focus," said Ed Wilson, a Washington lawyer whose practice focuses on cross-border money transactions.

American investigators have amade clear through last week's indictment that they view FIFA as rife with organizational corruption, and that means "people both up, down and sideways" from those indicted, Wilson said.

Another question is what Blatter knew about $10 million in payments, which the U.S. says was a bribe for CONCACAF officials to vote for South Africa as 2010 World Cup host. Blatter said he knew nothing about the payments.

More damaging details are expected Wednesday. A U.S. judge has approved the release of the transcript from the hearing in 2013 when Chuck Blazer pled guilty plea to corruption charges. Blazer is a former general secretary of CONCACAF and a former member of FIFA's executive committee.

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Q: Was Blatter warned that FIFA finances were at risk?

A: FIFA has been coming under pressure from sponsors to overhaul the governing body, with Visa last week becoming the first to threaten to cut its ties unless there is evidence of reform. Questions were also raised in the House of Commons in London on Monday about whether the publicly-funded BBC should be paying FIFA for World Cup broadcast rights when FIFA finances are under question.

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Q: Will Blatter's resignation impact the next World Cups hosts?

A: A Swiss investigation is looking into the bidding process that saw Russia awarded the 2018 World Cup and Qatar voted the 2022 host in a contentious dual decision in 2010.

The Qatari bid has attracted the most criticism, with accusations the wealthy tiny Gulf nation bribed its way to victory. Qatar has repeatedly denied those allegations, and a strong legal case is likely to be required before any host was stripped of soccer's $5 billion event.

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Q: When will Blatter's successor be announced?

A: Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA's audit and compliance committee, announced the presidential election is likely to "take place anytime from December of this year to March of next year" at an extraordinary FIFA congress.

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Q: Who are the candidates likely to be?

A: The favorite will be 59-year-old Michel Platini, the former French national team captain and the president of European soccer's governing body since 2007. Platini decided not to take on former ally Blatter in last week's election. Prince Ali hinted Tuesday he may have another shot at the presidency.

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Q: What will FIFA look like without Blatter?

A: It will probably be more open about the running of the sport. Scala said he will seek to make public the compensation of the president and executive committee members. Blatter called for term limits.

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Q: How much in put will Blatter have in reform proposals?

A: How lame a duck he will be will be determined by the executive committee, which likely will set up mechanisms to make proposals and will approve items put on the agenda for the extraordinary congress.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-06-03

[sanuk711]

Sepp Blatter is to step down as president of FIFA. A spokesman said,

"We virtually had to bribe him to resign. "................................................

[worgeordie]

Was he pushed or did he jump ?, he was sticking like

a limpet to that job,now hes resigned,hope he does not

think because he has resigned that all will be forgotten,

makes it easier to use the full power of the law to investigate

all the alleged wrongdoings he has reined over for so long..

P.S. hope he does not run to Thailand like a lot of criminals,

regards Worgeordie

[AlQaholic]

He is running......

[saab]

Football is sadly not a sport anymore,it is all about money, image, and power

So many people who control football have only contempt for the loyal supporters .

If you have time listen to this BBC documentary, broadcast in April

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05r3w43

[Basil B]

If rumours are true, that one or more of those already indited are singing like a canneries, he will be gone long before the elections to appoint his successor.

As for who will stand in when he is taken out that door in handcuffs depends on who is left at FIFA.

What annoys me so much is the UK and other countries spent millions to put forward their presentations to host the world cup in what appears to be a sham that had already been decided by vote buying.

[JakeSully]

Isn't it obvious?

The US Justice system catches small fishes to rat the mid level fishes. The mid level fishes lead to bigger fishes till you have the Big Fish. When you get to a guy that is Blatter's right hand man who tansferred $10 million US, you're pretty close to the big fish.

With it being this close and the US having a very good extradition treaty with Canada where the Head of Fifa is supposed to be to inaugurate the Womens World Cup next week.. he's afraid of getting indicted and will resign rather than go to Canada and risk extradition to the US.

[Basil B]

Isn't it obvious?

The US Justice system catches small fishes to rat the mid level fishes. The mid level fishes lead to bigger fishes till you have the Big Fish. When you get to a guy that is Blatter's right hand man who tansferred $10 million US, you're pretty close to the big fish.

With it being this close and the US having a very good extradition treaty with Canada where the Head of Fifa is supposed to be to inaugurate the Womens World Cup next week.. he's afraid of getting indicted and will resign rather than go to Canada and risk extradition to the US.

He is still at the helm...

So he will have to find another excuse to skip Canada next week which I am sure he will.

Probable a backlog of paper work, (loading the shredder).

[elgordo38]

He tried to circle the wagons and keep the howling masses at bay but he ran out of bullets and is now trying to preserve his scalp. As sports is now a big business mainly I wonder how many undetected similar shenanigans are going on world wide. I think the episode we had here recently of young players degenerating females is more common than we think. Money corrupts. I think the FIFA scandal is causing a lot of people to loose sleep at night and they no doubt have started looking over their shoulder.

[KarenBravo]

FIFA today, F1 tomorrow......

[DLang]

On his way to one of the small island federations where he can't be extradited from?

[Chicog]

FIFA today, F1 tomorrow......

There is no comparison between the two.

Bernie OWNS the commercial rights to F1, he is not elected.

[KarenBravo]

FIFA today, F1 tomorrow......

There is no comparison between the two.

Bernie OWNS the commercial rights to F1, he is not elected.

Agreed, but, he's still ruined the sport.

[lvr181]

Anyone hear of taking responsibility, even at a corporate level?

Oh well,Sep Blatter one day, septic bladder the next. Good riddance I say!

[khunken]

FIFA today, F1 tomorrow......

There is no comparison between the two.

Bernie OWNS the commercial rights to F1, he is not elected.

You are implying that Blatter is elected, which he is but........

Fans & players have no say. Clubs vote for country FA officials who then vote for the FIFA chief. That's country officials like Worawi Makudi who is as corrupt as any of the others & manipulates who can & can't vote for him.

It's a system that's riddled with corruption from bottom to top. As an example look at the current farce in Indonesia. They're now banned from international football because FIFA won't allow government intervention in a corrupt local FA body. FIFA, just like some politicians here, regards itself as above the law.

I don't like Big Brother interference, but I applaud the US authorities for exposing the rotten to the core FIFA.

[Publicus]

Isn't it obvious?

The US Justice system catches small fishes to rat the mid level fishes. The mid level fishes lead to bigger fishes till you have the Big Fish. When you get to a guy that is Blatter's right hand man who tansferred $10 million US, you're pretty close to the big fish.

With it being this close and the US having a very good extradition treaty with Canada where the Head of Fifa is supposed to be to inaugurate the Womens World Cup next week.. he's afraid of getting indicted and will resign rather than go to Canada and risk extradition to the US.

Dead fish stink and a lot of 'em stink before they're caught.

[Chicog]

FIFA today, F1 tomorrow......

There is no comparison between the two.

Bernie OWNS the commercial rights to F1, he is not elected.

Agreed, but, he's still ruined the sport.

Actually he's the one who made it what it is, and it is a huge commercial success.

The constant FIA tinkering is what is ruining the sport.

[Chicog]

Plan to fix FIFA:

1. Sack KPMG