Outgoing FIFA President Sepp Blatter yesterday "presented a defiant face" to his staff within the organization's Zurich HQ, going to the office as usual and holding "a town hall at which his employees gave him a standing ovation," according to Joshua Robinson of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. A source said, "People are still sticking to him. He has many friends in the staff." FIFA within the past 48 hours has "done plenty of diving into its own statutes for guidance on how to proceed," as no one currently working in FIFA’s senior staff "has ever dealt with the sudden resignation of a president." Blatter said that he "intended to make the most of his remaining six to nine months in office." But what he is able to achieve "remains unclear, since he hasn’t laid out what he hopes to accomplish." There is also "plenty of ill will toward him on the executive committee" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/4). In London, Adam Withnall reports FIFA staff members described Blatter as "being emotional" yesterday, with some "saying he appeared close to tears throughout" the meeting (London INDEPENDENT, 6/4). The FINANCIAL TIMES' Moore, Blitz & Farchy noted FIFA yesterday insisted that "there was 'no panic'" at its HQ, but "in the outside world pressure began to build" for Blatter to leave his post immediately. FIFA Exec Committee member Kozo Tashima said, "It is a kind of a farce now for him to stay in office for the next six months or however long it takes to decide the new president. There’s no reason for him to resign if there’s nothing on him. But if there is something on him then you could make the argument that he shouldn’t be allowed to stay on a moment longer." But FIFA denied "there was pressure" for Blatter to go (FT.com, 6/3).
NEXT IN LINE: REUTERS' Mike Collett wrote FIFA is facing a "turning point in its history" with the end of Blatter's 17-year reign. It is "unlikely that anyone will remain at the helm for that long if age and term limits for future presidents are instituted as part of reforms." Some of the men "who might be candidates" include UEFA President Michel Platini of France, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Former FIFA Int'l Relations Dir Jerome Champagne of France, German Football Federation President Wolfgang Niersbach, FIFA Audit & Compliance Committee Chair Domenico Scala of Italy/Switzerland and FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke of France (
REUTERS, 6/3). Former FIFA VP Chung Mong-joon yesterday said that he is "considering a bid" for the FIFA presidency. The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Alastair Gale noted the billionaire heir of South Korea’s Hyundai conglomerate "has for years been one of the strongest critics" of Blatter. Chung "emphasized his own calls to increase transparency at FIFA during his 17 years at the organization" (
WSJ.com, 6/3). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Robinson asks, "What happens if the 79-year-old Mr. Blatter can’t carry out his duties until the extraordinary electoral congress?" His temporary successor under FIFA regulations would automatically be the "longest serving member of the executive committee," who at the moment is African Football President Issa Hayatou, a "longtime ally" of Blatter's (
WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/4).
COMING TO CANADA? The GLOBE & MAIL's Sean Gordon notes FIFA is "running out of top-level dignitaries to send" to the Women's World Cup in Canada. Center stage "will be occupied by Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani, who conspicuously voted against Blatter’s re-election and is positioning this country’s governing body as an agent of change." He is "something of an unlikely reformer given he is a dues-paid member of the sport’s establishment" (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/4). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Robinson notes Blatter's list of official appearances between now and the election "is short, yet significant." Though he is "no longer expected to travel" to the Women's World Cup, his docket "includes two meetings of FIFA’s executive committee in September in Zurich and in December around the Club World Cup in Japan" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/4).
FIXING A HOLE: In L.A., Kevin Baxter writes if FIFA is "serious about polishing its image and building some credibility," there are "several steps" it can take immediately. First, the organization "must become completely transparent." This should include a requirement that the organization "release its annual financial statements to the public." In addition, if the release of the report by former U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia and ongoing probes by both U.S. and Swiss authorities "provide damning evidence of irregularities in Qatar's World Cup bid, FIFA should not hesitate to redo the vote" (L.A. TIMES, 6/4). In N.Y., Jere Longman asked, "What next?" An organization that "seemed incapable of meaningful reform must now make quick, profound changes in transparency and accountability if it is to regain credibility in the wake of revelations of widespread corruption." When FIFA "begins to put in place overhauls, it should do what the Olympics did with drug testing -- turn it over to independent investigators. There should also "be a re-examination of the bid process" that awarded the '18 World Cup to Russia and the '22 World Cup to Qatar. In addition, officials "should reconsider the one-country, one-vote system in FIFA elections to determine whether it promotes democracy or patronage." MLS Commissioner Don Garber said of Blatter's resignation, "You almost feel like a dark cloud was lifted off this sport." He added that an opportunity "now exists for real structural change." Garber: "It would be a shame if we missed this opportunity" (NYTIMES.com, 6/3).
