FIFA

Gianni Rivera · 發表於 2011-5-30 09:19:36

Fifa to launch investigation of Blatter
By Roger Blitz, Leisure Industries Correspondent

Published: May 27 2011 12:23 | Last updated: May 27 2011 19:50

Fifa was plunged into disarray after football’s governing body said it was formally investigating Sepp Blatter, its president, a move that sets the stage for a defining moment in the organisation’s 107-year history.

Another day of crisis at Fifa saw the war of words intensify between Mr Blatter and Mohamed bin Hammam, his challenger for the presidency. Fifa officials are now uncertain whether next week’s presidential election will go ahead.

Fifa then invited Mr Blatter to respond to the claim on Saturday and to attend an ethics committee hearing on Sunday.

It means that both candidates will be quizzed at a Fifa hearing just three days before delegates are due to cast their votes for a new president at a Fifa Congress in Zurich.

Mr Blatter said: “I cannot comment on the proceedings that have been opened against me today. The facts will speak for themselves.”

The Fifa president won the backing of Vladimir Putin, Russia’s prime minister, who said: “To accuse Blatter of corruption is complete rubbish.”

Hugh Robertson, UK sports minister said: “The Fifa presidential election campaign has descended into a farce. With both of the candidates having allegations of corruption aimed at them, the election should be suspended.”

Mr bin Hammam and a fellow executive committee member, Jack Warner, are being investigated over cash payments allegedly made at an election campaign meeting they organised in Trinidad on May 10 and 11, involving members of the Caribbean Football Union.

On Thursday, Mr bin Hammam called for the president to be brought into the investigation, claiming that Mr Blatter “was informed of, but did not oppose, payments allegedly made to members of [CFU]”.

Fifa’s response, made in a press release on Friday, said Mr bin Hammam’s claim suggested that Mr Warner would have told Mr Blatter “in advance” about the alleged cash payments to delegates, “and that the Fifa president would have had no issue with these”.

A representative for Mr bin Hammam replied on Friday: “Nobody has ever tried to hide the fact that Mr bin Hammam paid for the delegates’ travel and accommodation expenses and covered the meeting’s administrative costs”.

Mr bin Hammam added that there was increasing evidence of a conspiracy against his candidacy for the Fifa presidency, adding that any allegations about his trying to buy votes were “completely false”.

The two candidates are becoming increasingly belligerent as the governing body struggles to deal with the allegations, which originate from Chuck Blazer, another member of the executive committee.

Mr bin Hammam denied the claims against him, saying they amounted to a “tactic” by his opponent. Mr Blatter has said such a suggestion was “ludicrous and completely reprehensible”.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011.

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