Sepp Blatter's resignation as president of FIFA is "good news for world football," according to the FINANCIAL TIMES. But "Blaxit," as his "departure plan has been dubbed, will not alone deliver the overhaul" the organization needs. For years, those angered by corruption allegations at FIFA have "rightly called" for Blatter to go. But it is "important to remember" that FIFA's "bad reputation preceded his presidency." Blatter's predecessor, Brazilian João de Havelange, "was found guilty of taking bribes from a marketing company." The problem with FIFA "lies in its structure." It generates billions of dollars in each four-year World Cup cycle. What happens to this money is "not always clear." FIFA "can only end this system by taking drastic action." It must "abandon its legal status as a Swiss not-for-profit sporting association, with no obligation to publish accounts or meet basic requirements for transparency." Instead, FIFA should "run itself as a public company, subjecting its activities to proper reporting disciplines" (FT, 6/3). In Melbourne, Sebastian Hassett wrote for those "hoping the resignation" of Blatter means FIFA will "automatically clean up its act," think "again." There can be "no doubt the departure of the Swiss autocrat is a gigantic step forward." However, Blatter has not "stepped aside yet." Until the next elections, in December at the earliest, Blatter will -- if
his previous record is "any indication" -- do "all he can to not only
maintain the existing power structures within FIFA, but enhance them." To expect anything else "would be naive." With his dignity "long gone,
Blatter will most likely try to protect those who can best protect him
in retirement" (THE AGE, 6/3).
COMPLICATED FUTURE: In London, Matt Dickinson wrote we will "find out soon enough, quite possibly from the FBI, what finally persuaded Sepp Blatter to accept that even his time was up." Jumped "before he was pushed?" Whatever the cause, "the chance for true reform" of that "corrupted" organization is "unprecedented." The "natural instinct is to rejoice, but we should not do so with abandon." We can "hardly say that the global game celebrated Blatter's resignation in harmony when, only last week, almost two thirds of the footballing world, including several big countries in Europe, voted for him to continue." Without wishing to "pee in the champagne of all who have rightly toasted Blatter's imminent departure, the future is not so much bright as extremely complicated" (LONDON TIMES, 6/3).
TWISTED GOALS: In London, Gideon Rachman wrote perhaps it is "my over-developed sense of fair play, but I could not
help feeling some pity for the man when he stepped down." FIFA is an "odd
organisation." On one level, it "clearly is deeply corrupt." But in other
ways, it is "also very well run." As a "serial attender of World Cups," I can testify that World Cups are "exceptionally
well-run and enjoyable events."
And while Blatter's support for the globalization of football "irritated the Europeans and Latin Americans, it was good that Blatter's
period in office saw the first World Cups played in Africa and Asia." But
the "generally laudable goal of supporting the globalisation of football
became twisted and perverted by corruption" within and around FIFA (FT, 6/3).
STANDING OVATION: In London, Adam Withnall reported Blatter "reportedly received a standing ovation on his
return to work at the organisation's headquarters in Zurich following
his resignation." Blatter spoke to FIFA staff for about 10 minutes on Wednesday morning from the "same auditorium" where he announced he was quitting. Staff described him as "being emotional, some saying he appeared close to tears throughout." He received a "standing ovation after he finished speaking, it was reported" (INDEPENDENT, 6/3).
ON THE AIR: CNBC's Eamon Javers said the investigation into Jerome Valcke "moved the investigation a lot closer to Blatter himself" ("Power Lunch," CNBC, 6/2). CBS' Mark Phillips said of Blatter, "In four short days he had gone from victory and defiance, to defeat and resignation." Sports lawyer and FIFA critic David Larkin said FIFA "cannot control" this investigation because "it's run by an independent U.S. law enforcement agency and as a result I think they're running scared" ("Evening News," CBS, 6/2). Phillips said Blatter's "shocked departure doesn't mean FIFA is fixed and it certainly doesn't mean that Blatter, and FIFA, are now off the hook" ("CBS This Morning," 6/3). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said Blatter is “worried that the FBI is going to indict him” and then “maybe he would end up in jail alongside of all the people in that little circle right under him.” Kornheiser: “I don’t think Sepp Blatter would have done this if he didn’t think someone was at the door.” ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said, “The world is a better place getting rid of this guy and I don’t know that this cures all the problems that FIFA has.” Kornheiser said the “first thing that a new president ought to do: Get that World Cup out of Qatar and move it to a place where it’s not 10,000 degrees, like the United States” (“PTI,” ESPN, 6/2). Fox Sports’ Alexi Lalas, on the bid process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups: “When we look at what the mandate is for FIFA, particularly when it comes to Qatar, we can scream and yell about Sepp Blatter all we want, but part of the mandate of FIFA is to go and spread the gospel of soccer, and in that sense, going to Qatar is certainly doing that. What it comes down to when it comes to these bids is you want it to be fair. If you lose, you lose. We understand that, and it’s coming out more and more that it wasn’t a fair process.” Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl said, "They need to get a leader from outside the organization. Everyone within FIFA has had some sort of connection to what has been going on over the last several decades. A guy like Kofi Annan, the former United Nations leader, would be perfect to come in as someone with a great reputation who would say, ‘there’s a new sheriff in charge here’” (“America’s Pregame,” FS1, 6/2).
