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FIFA members unite in criticism of English FA and country's 'media lies' as Blatter given presidential green light
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:54 PM on 1st June 2011
FA chairman David Bernstein called on the 208 FIFA member associations to stop Sepp Blatter being re-elected unopposed but they voted by 172 votes to 17 not to postpone the election.
FIFA's senior vice-president Julio Grondona then launched a stinging attack saying England is 'always complaining'.
Powerhouse: FIFA President Sepp Blatter gave the opening speech during the 61st congress in ZurichThe Argentinian head of FIFA's finance committee told the congress: 'We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is more busy lying than telling the truth. This upsets and disturbs the FIFA family.
'To present such a project as David Bernstein presented is like shooting a penalty because it cannot be always from the same place that the insults and problems come from.
Play fair: Blatter made bold claims about the direction in which he wants to take FIFA
Stinging: Julio Grondona, blasted the English FA for their comments about FIFA
'I see it at every congress. They have specific privileges with four countries having one vice-president. I don't know what our president has said.
'But we have seen the World Cup go around the world, to South America and Africa and it looks like this country does not like it.
'It looks like England is always complaining so please I say will you leave the FIFA family alone, and when you speak, speak with truth.'
In an interview with a German press agency yesterday, Grondona called England 'pirates' and added: 'With the English [2018 World Cup] bid I said: Let us be brief. If you give back the Falkland Islands, which belong to us, you will get my vote. They then became sad and left.'
Bernstein had said the recent scandals, which have culminated in two of FIFA's most senior figures being suspended on bribery charges, had led to a situation where the election should be re-opened to new candidates.
'We are faced with an unsatisfactory situation. We are subject to universal criticism from governments, sponsors, media and the wider world,' he said. 'With this background the election has turned into one-horse race.
'This should be avoided both for the sake of FIFA and the president itself. A coronation without an opponent provides a flawed mandate.'
After the vote, Blatter announced a major change to how World Cup hosts will be chosen.
In the future, the tournament's hosts will be chosen by a vote of all the 208 member associations rather than the 24-man executive committee.
The chairman of the ethics committee - the watchdog group set up in 2006 to deal with claims of malpractice in FIFA - will in future also be elected by the congress.
Making a stand: FA chairman David Bernstein received a lukewarm reception after his speech
Blatter suggested that a committee would be set up to examine FIFA's corporate governance and recommend changes.
He said he would learn from the 'public anger' and would lead FIFA out of their current predicament.
He said: 'We have been hit and I personally have been slapped. We have made mistakes and we will learn from this. I can say to a certain extent that this is a good warning, not just to look into our problems and I am willing to face the public anger in order to serve football.
'I am the captain weathering the storm, this is a difficult period for FIFA and I admit that readily. Not only is the pyramid shaking but our ship has drawn some water. We must do something because I do not want ever again that we face this undignified situation.'
The leaders of associations from Haiti, the Congo DR, Benin, Fiji and Cyprus all spoke to criticise the FA's move.
Selemani Owari, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's football federation, made reference to ex-FA chairman Lord Triesman's claims in Parliament of impropriety by four FIFA members during England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.
Sponsors may force reform
FIFA could be forced into significant reform by their corporate sponsors, according to a leading sports lawyer.
Visa, Emirates, Coca-Cola and adidas expressed concern over allegations of corruption at the top level of FIFA.
Income from the key sponsors amounts to 26 per cent of FIFA's revenue, around one billion US dollars.
Harry Karaolou, sports lawyer at City law firm Lawrence Graham, said: 'An important factor to consider is the weight of the corporate sponsors, who have been relatively quiet so far.
'If the FIFA brand is tarnished, even if the allegations are proved to be untrue, the lack of transparency and the body's stubbornness to change will put major brands in a very difficult position.
'They will not allow their reputation to be damaged by association - many will walk away and will have a clause in their contracts enabling them to do so.'
A report into the claims has failed to provide corroborating evidence of the claims, and Selemani said: 'We are ill at ease with people who wield unfounded accusations - he who accuses must provide evidence.
'FIFA belongs to 208 national associations and not to one association, we must not seek solutions thorough the media or a parliament in any third country.'
FIFA has been beset by allegations of corruption and four executive committee members have been suspended since October.
One of those, Asian chief Mohamed Bin Hammam was denied access to the congress after being unable to file his appeal, he said in a statement.
The 62-year-old was suspended pending an investigation into alleged bribery during his campaign running for president against Blatter.
'I am very sad and disappointed over what has happened in the last days,' the statement said. 'I will never accept how my name and my reputation have been damaged. I will fight for my rights.'
Whistleblower Chuck Blazer took his place on the executive committee despite moves to sack him as secretary general of the CONCACAF federation.
Blazer was the author of a report which led to Jack Warner and Bin Hammam being provisionally suspended.
Dark clouds: FIFA has been beset by allegations of corruption and bribery
Troubled times: Jack Warner and Mohamed bin Hammam have both been suspended by FIFA
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1QriitiVt
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:54 PM on 1st June 2011
- FA lose bid to have FIFA presidential election postponed. Members vote 172 to 17
- Other national associations launch attacks on English FA and country's media
- Argentinian FA says England have 'upset the FIFA family'
- Blatter announces World Cups to be decided by all members rather than just EXCO
- President claims he is the only man capable of leading FIFA out of 'troubled waters'
FA chairman David Bernstein called on the 208 FIFA member associations to stop Sepp Blatter being re-elected unopposed but they voted by 172 votes to 17 not to postpone the election.
FIFA's senior vice-president Julio Grondona then launched a stinging attack saying England is 'always complaining'.
Powerhouse: FIFA President Sepp Blatter gave the opening speech during the 61st congress in ZurichThe Argentinian head of FIFA's finance committee told the congress: 'We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support of journalism which is more busy lying than telling the truth. This upsets and disturbs the FIFA family.
'To present such a project as David Bernstein presented is like shooting a penalty because it cannot be always from the same place that the insults and problems come from.
Play fair: Blatter made bold claims about the direction in which he wants to take FIFA
Stinging: Julio Grondona, blasted the English FA for their comments about FIFA
'I see it at every congress. They have specific privileges with four countries having one vice-president. I don't know what our president has said.
'But we have seen the World Cup go around the world, to South America and Africa and it looks like this country does not like it.
'It looks like England is always complaining so please I say will you leave the FIFA family alone, and when you speak, speak with truth.'
In an interview with a German press agency yesterday, Grondona called England 'pirates' and added: 'With the English [2018 World Cup] bid I said: Let us be brief. If you give back the Falkland Islands, which belong to us, you will get my vote. They then became sad and left.'
Bernstein had said the recent scandals, which have culminated in two of FIFA's most senior figures being suspended on bribery charges, had led to a situation where the election should be re-opened to new candidates.
'We are faced with an unsatisfactory situation. We are subject to universal criticism from governments, sponsors, media and the wider world,' he said. 'With this background the election has turned into one-horse race.
'This should be avoided both for the sake of FIFA and the president itself. A coronation without an opponent provides a flawed mandate.'
After the vote, Blatter announced a major change to how World Cup hosts will be chosen.
In the future, the tournament's hosts will be chosen by a vote of all the 208 member associations rather than the 24-man executive committee.
The chairman of the ethics committee - the watchdog group set up in 2006 to deal with claims of malpractice in FIFA - will in future also be elected by the congress.
Making a stand: FA chairman David Bernstein received a lukewarm reception after his speech
Blatter suggested that a committee would be set up to examine FIFA's corporate governance and recommend changes.
He said he would learn from the 'public anger' and would lead FIFA out of their current predicament.
He said: 'We have been hit and I personally have been slapped. We have made mistakes and we will learn from this. I can say to a certain extent that this is a good warning, not just to look into our problems and I am willing to face the public anger in order to serve football.
'I am the captain weathering the storm, this is a difficult period for FIFA and I admit that readily. Not only is the pyramid shaking but our ship has drawn some water. We must do something because I do not want ever again that we face this undignified situation.'
The leaders of associations from Haiti, the Congo DR, Benin, Fiji and Cyprus all spoke to criticise the FA's move.
Selemani Owari, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's football federation, made reference to ex-FA chairman Lord Triesman's claims in Parliament of impropriety by four FIFA members during England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.
Sponsors may force reform
FIFA could be forced into significant reform by their corporate sponsors, according to a leading sports lawyer.
Visa, Emirates, Coca-Cola and adidas expressed concern over allegations of corruption at the top level of FIFA.
Income from the key sponsors amounts to 26 per cent of FIFA's revenue, around one billion US dollars.
Harry Karaolou, sports lawyer at City law firm Lawrence Graham, said: 'An important factor to consider is the weight of the corporate sponsors, who have been relatively quiet so far.
'If the FIFA brand is tarnished, even if the allegations are proved to be untrue, the lack of transparency and the body's stubbornness to change will put major brands in a very difficult position.
'They will not allow their reputation to be damaged by association - many will walk away and will have a clause in their contracts enabling them to do so.'
A report into the claims has failed to provide corroborating evidence of the claims, and Selemani said: 'We are ill at ease with people who wield unfounded accusations - he who accuses must provide evidence.
'FIFA belongs to 208 national associations and not to one association, we must not seek solutions thorough the media or a parliament in any third country.'
FIFA has been beset by allegations of corruption and four executive committee members have been suspended since October.
One of those, Asian chief Mohamed Bin Hammam was denied access to the congress after being unable to file his appeal, he said in a statement.
The 62-year-old was suspended pending an investigation into alleged bribery during his campaign running for president against Blatter.
'I am very sad and disappointed over what has happened in the last days,' the statement said. 'I will never accept how my name and my reputation have been damaged. I will fight for my rights.'
Whistleblower Chuck Blazer took his place on the executive committee despite moves to sack him as secretary general of the CONCACAF federation.
Blazer was the author of a report which led to Jack Warner and Bin Hammam being provisionally suspended.
Dark clouds: FIFA has been beset by allegations of corruption and bribery
Troubled times: Jack Warner and Mohamed bin Hammam have both been suspended by FIFA
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1QriitiVt
GettyImagesJonathan Ford did not back the English FA.
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