FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Thursday "remained defiant in the face of far-reaching corruption allegations" as pressure "mounted on FIFA's embattled leader to step down," according to Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST. Blatter said ahead of FIFA's presidential vote, "I will not allow the actions of a few to destroy the hard work and integrity of the vast majority who worked so hard. ... I know many people hold me ultimately responsible for the actions and reputations of the global football community, whether it's a decision for the hosting of a World Cup or a corruption scandal." He added, "We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it.” Goff notes UEFA President Michel Platini publically "called for Blatter to step down." Blatter had previously "kept a low profile ... holding emergency talks with the sport’s high-ranking executives and canceling public appearances." He said that he and FIFA "will cooperate with investigators but warned 'more bad news' was likely in a 'difficult few months' ahead" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/29). The FINANCIAL TIMES' Moore & Aglionby report Blatter told an "emergency meeting of senior officials on Thursday that it was 'too late' for him to withdraw from a presidential election on the eve of the vote" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/29).
THIS IS THE END: In N.Y., Mike Lupica writes whether Blatter "is re-elected or not, he is through." Lupica: "Maybe not today, or next month, or even this year. But he does not survive this in the end, just because he was the one in charge." Blatter "should have the grace to resign, but there is no grace with these people, just the intoxicating notion of their own power, and their unwavering brass-balls confidence that they can ride out a story of corruption like the one that comes out of FIFA now" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/29). FA Chair Greg Dyke said, "It is over anyway for Blatter" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/29). Dyke added, "The events of this week have turned him into a diminished figure and I can't see him lasting more than a year or two" (LONDON TIMES, 5/29). The GUARDIAN's Owen Gibson writes it is "time Blatter finally looked in the mirror" and stepped down. Gibson: "For the game, for the world" (GUARDIAN, 5/29). In London, Damian Collins writes if FIFA "fails to embrace genuine and radical reform, it is not just Sepp Blatter who could be shown the exit, but the whole organisation itself" (London TELEGRAPH, 5/29). ESPN's Bob Ley said it will be a “generational change” within FIFA in terms of changing the culture of corruption, because “you do see a younger generation upcoming” within the organization. But Ley added, “This is not going to happen overnight” (“Olbermann,” ESPN2, 5/28).
A WELCOMED SURPRISE: An L.A. TIMES editorial stated that the legal authorities "are finally doing something" about FIFA is "surprising, and welcome." The U.S. Department of Justice "should pursue the investigation as far as the evidence leads in order to root out the corruption and catalyze a cultural change within FIFA" (L.A. TIMES, 5/29). In N.Y., Roger Cohen writes the corruption charges "reflect an organization rotten to its core, operating in the absence of any meaningful oversight." Just because future World Cup host countries Qatar and Russia "are gas-rich does not mean the process was corrupt." But the criminal investigation "is thoroughly warranted -- and the first requisite for making it thorough, transparent and credible is Blatter's immediate departure" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/29).
CONCACAF TAKES ACTION: In Miami, Michelle Kaufman notes in the wake of the arrests, CONCACAF announced that it "had dismissed" President Jeffrey Webb and VP Eduardo Li, and named Senior VP Alfredo Hawit President. CONCACAF's exec committee also appointed Canadian Soccer Association President Victor Montagliani, Mexican Soccer Federation President Justino Compean and USSF President Sunil Gulati "to a special committee that will be charged with evaluating all of the business operations" of CONCACAF in wake of the indictments (MIAMI HERALD, 5/29). In L.A., Kevin Baxter notes the special committee has been "charged with evaluating and continuing the business operations of CONCACAF, among them running July's Gold Cup tournament, which will go ahead as scheduled." Less certain is the "status of next year's 100th anniversary edition of the Copa America, South America's most prestigious tournament." Officials of CONEMBOL, South America's soccer federation, and some of the marketing execs involved with the tournament, "were also among those named in the indictments." Gulati said, "Given everything that's happened, it's premature to say what the final result on that will be. Obviously you've got two confederations that are at the heart of one part of what happened yesterday. And the marketing companies are all part of some scenarios in terms of next summer. So over the days and weeks to come, we will come very quickly to terms with what the financial status of those companies is, because they are the partners of the event." Gulati said of the CONCACAF arrests, "That was very much a surprise. It's been widely written that there was an investigation going on of sorts. We certainly had no expectation of what we learned" (L.A. TIMES, 5/29).
