FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who was re-elected last week for a fifth term as president of world football’s governing body, "resigned his position Tuesday as law enforcement officials confirmed that he was a focus of a federal corruption investigation," according to Borden, Schmidt & Apuzzo of the N.Y. TIMES. Blatter "had for days tried to distance himself from the controversy," but several U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that in their efforts to build a case against Blatter "they were hoping to win the cooperation of some of the FIFA officials now under indictment and work their way up the organization." In a short speech delivered at FIFA HQ, Blatter said that "FIFA needs a profound restructuring" and that he had decided to step away from the organization for which he had worked in various positions for 40 years. FIFA Audit & Compliance Committee Independent Chair Domenico Scala said that Blatter’s resignation "is not immediate." A "special meeting of FIFA’s member nations will be called to elect a new president." According to FIFA’s rules, "there must be at least four months’ notice given to members for such a meeting." Blatter "will continue his duties in the meantime, but will focus on a program of reform" that he said would be driven by Scala. Blatter said, "For years, we have worked hard to put in place administrative reforms, but it is plain to me that while these must continue, they are not enough. We need deep-rooted structural change" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/2). The London GUARDIAN reported Scala said that FIFA "will consider wide-ranging changes to the structure of the executive committee, with further measures to ensure greater transparency." Scala: "These steps will ensure that the organization cannot be used by individuals seeking to enrich themselves at the expense of the game" (GUARDIAN, 6/2). In London, Malcolm Moore wrote Blatter’s resignation "came just four days after he won re-election for a fifth four-year term" at FIFA's annual congress. Blatter said, "I decided to stand again for election because I thought it was the best option. The election is closed but the challenges have not come to an end. ... Although the members of FIFA have re-elected me president, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football." Blatter and Scala said that FIFA would not carry out "integrity checks" in all members of its highest-ranking body, the ExCo. In recent years, several ExCo members have been implicated in a "range of corruption inquiries." His resignation came at the end of another "bruising day" for FIFA, after one of his most senior lieutenants, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, "was alleged to have had personal knowledge" of a $10M payment at the heart of a U.S. corruption probe (FINANCIAL TIMES, 6/2).
'UNNECESSARY DELAY': In London, Philippe Naughton wrote Blatter said that the next FIFA congress was not scheduled until May next year in Mexico City, which would create "unnecessary delay," so he was asking for a special session. He added that the ExCo must be reduced in size and elected through the FIFA congress, "not organized through the regional confederations." Blatter: "We need term limits not only for the president but for all members of the executive committee. I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone knows, my efforts have been blocked. This time, I will succeed" (LONDON TIMES, 6/2). Click here for Blatter's full resignation speech.
'THE RIGHT MOVE': The AP reported Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein said that Blatter's resignation was "the right move." Prince Ali "made the comments to CNN on Tuesday night." He said, "I think that it is the right move from Sepp Blatter and I think we have to look to the future." Prince Ali "repeatedly declined to say if he'd run again." Prince Ali: "I
am at the disposal of all the national associations who want a change,
including all of those who were afraid to make a change" (AP, 6/2).
CURIOUS TIMING: In a separate piece, Moore wrote Blatter's resignation "will call into question the Russia and Qatar World Cups." FA Chair Greg Dyke said, "We can go back to looking at those two World Cups. If I were Qatar right now I wouldn't be feeling very comfortable." The timing of Blatter's resignation "was curious." His election victory "appeared to have taken the wind out of the sails of his rivals." A pledge on Saturday not to meddle with World Cup slots "was a gesture of reconciliation to Europe, which was concerned about losing a place in the finals to Oceania." UEFA had been "very vocal before the election, but afterwards its members were backpedalling." There was "little to no support" for the boycott that the U.K. "had called for." Germany said it would be a "bad option." Something, suggested Dyke, "had happened in those four days since the election" to make Blatter's position untenable (FT, 6/2).
ON THE AIR: ESPN’s Chris McKendry said after Blatter announced his resignation, “Absolutely startling news.” McKendry said the press conference “looked quickly arranged and smally attended.” McKendry: “My first reaction was, ‘What is coming down the pike that suddenly Sepp Blatter 100 hours into this fifth term quickly resigned?’” ESPN’s Bob Ley said “this is stunning” after the “tempestuous press conference that Blatter held with the world’s press on Saturday when asked about those who voted against him he said, ‘I forgive all, but I do not forget,’ words that, to some people, might next have your stallion at the base of your bed.” ESPN’s Taylor Twellman said Blatter is out but before “you ever see me … celebrating this, I remind everyone there are about four or five bigger steps in really reforming what FIFA has to be all about.” Twellman added, “But I’m not sure the problem is the leadership. I think the bigger problem with this whole thing with FIFA is the way it’s all set up. It begs for corruption, it begs for racketeering and ultimately this is step one of what all of us hope in the world of soccer … a real change within FIFA.” ESPN’s Ian Darke said, “It was a hastily arranged news conference. It’s not the way that FIFA does things so we were expecting something mildly dramatic.” Darke: “It would be nice to think, wouldn’t it, that Sepp Blatter, after all the talk of fraud, bribes, corruption, wiretapping, racketeering, fell on his sword remembering that there are no indictments against him. But … something has happened in the last four days that has changed everything here." ESPN’s Darren Rovell said Visa’s silence regarding their reaction to Blatter’s re-election “spoke volumes after communicating to the world that they were probably the most unhappy. To then say nothing, that would give me reason to think that if there were sponsors that applied pressure over the weekend, Visa would probably be No. 1 in my mind.” ESPN's Gabriele Marcotti, on UEFA President Michel Platini: “He’s certainly become more powerful. Whether he’s going to be a candidate or not, that remains to be determined at this stage. I think there’s no question he’s going to be to some degree a kingmaker" (ESPN, 6/2).
