FA Chair Greg Dyke has put UEFA President Michel Platini "under pressure to mobilise a united Europe in a World Cup boycott to protest at Sepp Blatter's re-election" as FIFA president, according to Elks & Cue of the LONDON TIMES. Dyke has "called on the Frenchman, who privately pleaded with Blatter to go before Friday’s vote, to lead co-ordinated action of those opposed to the Swiss," 79, remaining as leader of a body "engulfed by allegations of corruption." Dyke believes that "'ten large countries' joining forces to make a stand and pulling out of the next World Cup in Russia in 2018 would make an impact." But, with reports suggesting that as many as 18 UEFA members voted for Blatter, including France, Spain and Russia, Dyke said that "'serious action' is required." Dyke said, "There would certainly be us, there would certainly be the Dutch, there would certainly be the Germans, who have been demanding change and would demand change. It does require real leadership and Mr. Platini has now got to stand up. He stood up and criticized Sepp Blatter, he's now got to lead the opposition." Dyke warned that it would be "'ridiculous' and self-defeating to carry out a lone protest" and called instead for national sides and sponsors to "stand together and demand change." Dyke: "All we would do is pull out of the World Cup, and everyone would say ‘well done’ and forget all about us. It’s got to be done by enough nations for it to have an impact, if it's done ... but I don’t think Blatter will last four years" (LONDON TIMES, 5/31).
BOYCOTT TALKS: In London, Rowena Mason reported Labour Party politician Andy Burnham said that England "should boycott the 2018 World Cup because someone needs to take a stand against corruption" in FIFA and military aggression by Russia. Burnham: "I’ve long had my doubts about Russia holding the next World Cup ... Now with all of this, I believe there is a pretty overwhelming case for England taking a stand and saying we should not participate in the next World Cup given the current appalling state of FIFA" (GUARDIAN, 5/31). Also in London, Paul Wilson reported Dyke said, "I am told that most of Europe voted against Blatter and all of Latin America. If that is the case then the two biggest football continents said, ‘We don’t want you, Mr. Blatter.’ And those are the two continents that are the World Cup." Dyke "does not believe" that the whole of UEFA is "ready for revolt at the moment." Dyke: "Certain countries would do it [join a boycott] but not all of them.” Such "drastic action may not be necessary." He added, "The American attorney general said this was the beginning, not the end, and she is probably right. I think there is a lot more to come out. I’m already taking bets Blatter won’t last another four years" (GUARDIAN, 5/30). REUTERS' Mike Collett reported Dyke said that he "did not think an emergency meeting would be called by FIFA following the latest allegations to hit the troubled organization." Dyke: "I think what is more likely is there will be further scandals. I think he (Blatter) will be then forced to resign. If he had been head of any company, any organization where there was proper scrutiny, he would have gone." Dyke also said that Blatter was "being paranoid" if he thought UEFA was "waging a hate campaign against him" (REUTERS, 5/30).
UNTAPPED POWER: In London, Gary Neville opined while people are "talking about sponsors or fans getting rid of Blatter and forcing change" in the organization, nobody is "mentioning the role that the players can play and, in my opinion, they are the group that can wield the greatest power." The "quickest and best way to bring Blatter down is to take players away from him." You will "struggle to take the African or Asian votes away from him, but players can become a unified force." It really is all "down to the players" and the organizations, such as FIFPro and the Professional Footballers' Association, to "use their power and position" to hold FIFA and Blatter to account (TELEGRAPH, 5/29). Also in London, John Whittingdale wrote supporters around the world may be "fiercely tribal in their loyalty to club and country, but they are not blind to the fact that something is rotten in the heart" of FIFA. Friday’s re-election of the "utterly discredited Blatter was similarly received with a sense of despairing resignation." Turkeys do not vote for Christmas, and FIFA execs "do not vote for presidential candidates promising an end to kickbacks and corruption." If FIFA is going to start "following the road to redemption, it has to embrace real change." And if Blatter "genuinely cares about the game he professes to love, he has to lead that change by resigning as president." If he does not go? Last week, some of the game's most respected figures "raised the prospect of world football turning its back" on FIFA. Platini has "talked of European nations boycotting future World Cups if Blatter refuses to stand down." No options "should be ruled out" (LONDON TIMES, 5/31). REUTERS' Osborn & Baghdijan wrote Whittingdale, the British government minister with overall responsibility for sport, "renewed calls for Blatter to step aside on Sunday, saying all options should be considered when it came to pressuring him to resign, including boycotting the World Cup -- something that could split the sport and be calamitous for the tournament." Britain "stepped up the pressure on Sunday." Whittingdale said, "Michel Platini has talked of European nations boycotting future World Cups if Blatter refuses to stand down. No options should be ruled out." Member associations of UEFA will "meet before the European Champions League final in Berlin on Saturday to discuss its next step." Before Blatter's re-election, Platini said that they "would be 'open to all options'" (REUTERS, 5/31).
WHAT IF? The AP's Ronald Blum asked what would happen if Blatter hosts a World Cup "and most of Europe, several South American powers and the United States don't show up?" Chicago-based consulting firm SportsCorp President Marc Ganis said, "Blatter's supporters are Vladimir Putin, the invader; the Qatari government and their supposed slave employees to build the facilities; and about 80 or 90 tiny countries that he has given each one a vote and a ton of money to. He needs to be careful not to overplay his hand. He was given an opportunity to do what he said, which is reform FIFA. If he uses that opportunity to extract retribution against those who are opposed to him, he's setting up a confrontation that if it goes all the way to the end, he can't win." With a one-nation, one-vote system, Blatter "has support of a majority of FIFA's 209 nations." But most of the world's best clubs, the strongest economies and the most lucrative TV audiences "are in countries that want Blatter out." Blatter "downplayed the possibility." Blatter: "They need FIFA, and FIFA needs UEFA." But would TV networks and sponsors "pay all that money for an audience to watch 97th-ranked Malawi play No. 99 Qatar?" (AP, 5/30). In London, Ben Rumsby outlined "four ways the game can oust the Swiss from office:" criminal investigations, boycott of the World Cup/FIFA, player pressure and sponsor pressure (TELEGRAPH, 5/30). In a separate article, Collett wrote FIFA "may be involved in a battle for its reputation," but it could become embroiled in a civil war with UEFA over World Cup places next. Blatter will hold the first exec committee meeting and "the only issue on the agenda is the allocation of World Cup slots." Blatter made it clear that he "intends to increase the chances of a team from FIFA's smallest confederation, Oceania." If he commits to offering them a direct place, "one of the other confederations face losing one" and Platini has "drawn a red line" that it will not be taken from UEFA's allocation of the 13 places they had in Brazil last year (REUTERS, 5/29).
AGAINST THE FLOW: In Sydney, Simon King wrote a former chairman of Soccer Australia "has heralded" Frank Lowy’s decision to vote against Blatter and stand apart from the Asian Football Confederation in which Australia sits as "courageous." Remo Nogarotto said that, given Football Federation Australia’s stand, there would be some “short-term pain” but it would not be impossible for FFA to navigate through it. Nogarotto said, "Australia has shown through its vote extraordinary courage and leadership" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/1).
