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Leagues and Governing Bodies

FIFA's Sepp Blatter Likely To Be Re-Elected, But Can He Survive In The Long Term?

European soccer execs "moved last night to unseat" FIFA President Sepp Blatter, after the sport’s governing body "was engulfed by the biggest corruption scandal in its history," according to a front-page piece by Bremner, Sage & Dickinson of the LONDON TIMES, who write under the header, "Blatter Shamed By World Cup Of Fraud." Execs from UEFA "called on FIFA to halt the election at an annual congress in Zurich tomorrow that was expected to reanoint" Blatter for his fifth term. Blatter "rejected calls to postpone the election and stand down." In a statement last night, he "depicted the inquiries as a positive response to his own clean-up efforts" (LONDON TIMES, 5/28). In N.Y., O'Keefe, Red & Thompson note Blatter thus far has "dodged charges," but federal prosecutors yesterday warned his reprieve "could be temporary." U.S. Attorney Kelly Currie: "This is the beginning of our effort, not the end" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/28). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Robinson & Evans write as crisis "swept through the upper echelons of global soccer," Blatter's fate yesterday "became the biggest question around FIFA." Blatter "has survived pointed criticism throughout his 17-year tenure," but FIFA "has never before been hit with such force." While Blatter has "never been implicated in corruption himself," he "has been subjected to heavy criticism for failing to reform FIFA’s often murky practices for electing host nations for major tournaments and distributing revenue" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/28).

RESET BUTTON: In San Diego, Stefanie Loh wrote Blatter "should postpone the elections until a later date, resign as FIFA president and allow the organization to appoint an interim leader until the investigation is complete." Only then can FIFA "truly start over and work to regain the trust of the world" (UTSANDIEGO.com, 5/27). In N.Y., Jonathan Mahler in a front-page piece notes Blatter has been "widely criticized as tone-deaf and dictatorial, an unworthy steward of the global game," and he has been "dodging scandals almost from the moment he was elected president" in '98 (N.Y. TIMES, 5/28). In Miami, Greg Cote wrote Blatter "should resign immediately" because, "willfully or blindly, corruption on his watch, during his 17 years leading the group, has embarrassed and ruined the credibility of the organization." He "should resign because he has been at the wheel while the ship ran aground." And yet, "instead of resigning, he might be reelected." Cote: "This is the comedy in the tragedy" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 5/27).

WILL HE SKATE BY? SPORTS ON EARTH's Will Leitch wrote Blatter "is the head of the snake; rest assured, he's not breathing particularly easy this morning" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 5/27). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes unless "some of these capos flip" on Blatter -- unless they "have the capacity to truly flip -- then this is a sideshow, a diversion, a terribly entertaining farce." Blatter "has been in this job for a long time, and the bet here is that he is a master of the architecture, such as it is." Arthur: "Unless you can unseat Sepp and dismantle what he has built, you have managed to ding some dons in a global framework whose gears work because of the grease, and which will find new greasemen" (TORONTO STAR, 5/28). NBCSN's Roger Bennett said each time Blatter is investigated, he “rallies his base in Africa, he rallies his base in Asia and says, ‘They’re trying to push us down.’ He may yet be implicated. I’m sure right now conversations are being had, exits are being negotiated and political pressure is being applied.” Bennett called Blatter a “cockroach,” because he is a “political survivor.” Bennett: "He could well end up running FIFA from prison like Paul Sorvino in ‘Goodfellas'" ("CBS This Morning," 5/28). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote if anything "was a surprise, it’s that more weren’t put in cuffs, most notably" Blatter, who "merely oversees this international criminal organization, but like some kind of central casting Hollywood villain always manages to escape direct involvement as he shrugs his shoulders and expresses shock before washing his troubles away via champagne flute" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/27). FS1's Rob Stone said, "We get this news and there was almost this sense of ,‘ding dong the witch is dead,’ with Sepp Blatter being the witch. But guess what? The witch is still alive and well. It’s nothing but ‘allegations.’ He’s not even on the list” ("America's Pregame," FS1, 5/27). In Boston, Evan Horowitz writes the "biggest fish seems to have gotten away" for now (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/28).

TIME TO GO: ESPN's Taylor Twellman said he would be "thoroughly shocked" if Blatter survives this, but as "history shows us, when the going gets tough he kind of just dodges bullets and moves on." ESPN's Ian Darke added of Blatter, "Whether he’s named in any of the indictments or not, he has been the man who has presided over this culture of corruption" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 5/27). The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly writes the general public "will not recognize any of the men arrested," as all of the accused "are replaceable functionaries." Only Blatter "really matters." Kelly: "No matter how many of his factotums they arrest, as long as Blatter continues to control the guest list, nothing about FIFA’s modus operandi requires adjustment" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/28). SPORTSNET.ca's Stephen Brunt wrote there "is a moment though, a tipping point that every despot faces eventually, when there’s no more hanging on, when loyal allies desert you, when you can’t cajole and you can’t intimidate and you don’t have any more favours to offer." There is a "last chance to get while the getting’s good or face the unpleasant consequences," and for Blatter that day "is at hand" (SPORTSNET.ca, 5/27). ESPN's Michael Smith said, "If this does not end with Sepp Blatter out of power, then what’s the point?" ("His & Hers," ESPN2, 5/27).

GAME OF THRONES: In N.Y., Wayne Coffey writes Blatter is "paunchy and pompous and plopped very comfortably on his gilded throne in Zurich" with enough global influence to make NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "look scarcely more imposing" than a Patriots equipment person. But it is "crazy that Sepp Blatter stays plopped on his throne and acts as if nothing has happened." The "sad truth is Blatter makes so much money for so many people, there’s almost no way he can lose" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/28). SI.com's Brian Straus wrote it is "quite possible" Blatter is "guilty only of spending too much time with dictators, saying terrible things about women’s soccer and creating a culture of amoral permissiveness that enriches those who, in turn, keep him in power." Blatter’s "tolerance for corruption and his ability to funnel profit toward FIFA’s constituent national federations likely will be enough to secure a fifth term" (SI.com, 5/27).

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