Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan "formally submitted his candidature to be FIFA president on Thursday," pledging to restore the reputation of world football's scandal-ridden governing body, according to Sudipto Ganguly of REUTERS. The election to replace departing leader Sepp Blatter "is currently scheduled for Feb. 26 but FIFA is discussing delaying it." UEFA President Michel Platini, who also hopes to take the top job, was suspended by FIFA's Ethics Committee last week. Prince Ali said, "This time of crisis at FIFA is an opportunity for positive change. Many good ideas have emerged in the current discussion over FIFA's future. A better future will only come if ideas turn into action -- and that will only happen if FIFA has the right leadership." Without Platini in the field, Ali's chances of winning "could rise significantly." As it stands, the deadline for nominations is Oct. 26 "and prospective candidates face a FIFA integrity check" (REUTERS, 10/15). In London, Owen Gibson wrote Asian Football Confederation President
Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa "is
understood to have resolved" to stand for the FIFA presidency. Sources
in Asia confirmed the move on Thursday night, "dealing a potentially
fatal blow to the dwindling hopes" retained by Platini of ascending to the top job. Following a day of turmoil and crisis meetings at UEFA, Sheikh Salman "had resolved to stand, after
receiving strong expressions of support from Europe, Asia, South America
and elsewhere" (GUARDIAN, 10/15).
NO CONTACT: The AFP's David Harding wrote a senior official said that Qatar's World Cup football bosses "have not been contacted by Swiss investigators examining corruption claims" over the bidding process for the '22 tournament. Qatar 2022 Organizing Committee Assistant General Secretary Nasser al-Khater replied "no" when asked if the Swiss Office of the Attorney General had been in touch during its now almost five months-long investigation. Khater "would not make any further comment on the Swiss investigation" but said that Qatar's preparations "were nevertheless ploughing ahead for the tournament in seven years' time" (AFP, 10/14).
ROCHA TO BE EXTRADITED: REUTERS' Jon Miller wrote Switzerland's Federal Office of Justice on Thursday "approved the extradition of ex-FIFA official Julio Rocha" to the U.S., one of seven people arrested at a Zurich hotel in May as part of a clampdown on alleged corruption in football. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of N.Y. "accuses Rocha of demanding and taking bribes" of $150,000 in connection with the sale of marketing rights to World Cup qualifying games. Rocha, a former FIFA development officer, "has 30 days to appeal the extradition approval, the FOJ said, adding that it had given priority to the U.S. request over a similar one from Nicaragua." The FOJ said that, according to the extradition request, "Rocha massively influenced the competitive situation and distorted the market for media rights in connection with the World Cup qualifying matches" (REUTERS, 10/15).
INCORRECT INFORMATION: Swiss private bank Julius Baer said on Thursday that media reports about its involvement with FIFA "were incorrect." It "was responding to an advance summary of a report on Wednesday by the Handelszeitung paper which formed the basis of a number of news stories." The bank said in a statement, "This preliminary information, which contains wrong statements, was partially corrected by Handelszeitung for today's print edition." It "did not specify which parts of the Handelszeitung story it was disputing." The advance summary of the report said that "a dozen FIFA officials had accounts at Baer, but the print version speaks of a number in the low single figures" (REUTERS, 10/15).
