Why football would be ‘Blatter’ off without Sepp

Blatter gets red-carded in a charity match. Photo: AP

Meet Sepp Blatter; the man who many feel is responsible for building the most corrupt organisation in world sport – the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa).

Writers, commentators, players and even ex-Fifa staff claim Blatter is ‘unfit’ to manage an association which has more nations affiliated to it than either the United Nations or the Olympic Games.

They also say that Blatter has led the greatest game in the world to the brink of financial ruin.

In 2002, for instance, then Fifa general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen produced a 23-page dossier which claimed Blatter was misusing Fifa funds and had cost the federation almost £500million.

He also accused the 74-year-old Blatter of dodgy accounting practices and of having a conflict of interests.

This ultimately led to Zen-Ruffinen being forced out after Blatter’s re-election.

Zen-Ruffinen however told press he does not take back any of the criticisms against Fifa’s chief in his report:

“I stand behind what I said. All the charges I have made against Sepp Blatter are 100% true.” (Michel Zen-Ruffinen, May 2002)

Andrew Jennings in his book ‘Foul!‘ claims Blatter used his position of general secretary to rally support for his presidential campaign in 1998 and secretly charged over £42,000 of his election bills to Fifa.

A copy of a Fifa expenses sheet obtained by Jennings reveals Blatter charged nearly £8,000 for phone, fax and courier costs, plus £35,000 for his travel.

Jennings also notes that bribes were used to secure the votes which won Blatter the presidency. The Briton adds Fifa use football monies for legal fees, such as the MasterCard case, and to repay the ISL bribes.

In a speech to delegates at the 2005 Play the Game conference (see p7), Jennings asserts the head of world football is a crook:

“He [Blatter] cares about nothing except himself and the interests of a handful of officials. To him, football fans are suckers to be ripped off.” (Andrew Jennings, 2005)

'Gangster' Blatter in his true colours? Photo: & Golden Boy &

Fifa accuses Jennings of distorting its viewpoints in ‘Foul!‘ and even tired to ban the book.

But when given the chance by Play the Game to have their say and set the record straight, Fifa communications director Markus Siegler replied: “Neither Fifa nor its president see any reason to comment on the points raised.”

The federation’s lack of accountability and transparency is also evident from the secrecy of Blatter’s salary.

Reporter Jennings believes he earns over £900,000 a year basic pay on top of a ‘loyalty bonus’ worth £250,000, while sources in Fifa say Blatter bags around £1.7million each year.

Lincoln University’s sports director Robin Wright though believes the ageing Fifa president is past his time:

“He [Blatter] is too old and out of contact with the modern game.” (Robin Wright, June 2010)

Proof of this can be seen from Fifa’s stubborn position on technology in football. Despite intense pressure from the football world, Fifa still oppose its use in the game.

Author Jennings says Fifa will not introduce goal-line technology for political reasons. He claims it would restrict Blatter’s ability to manipulate officials hence the outcome of matches.

Similarly, football analyst Paddy Mulligan professes Fifa are more interested in money than improving the game:

“I’ve no time for Sepp Blatter or Fifa because if they really wanted to clean up the game they would have. They [Fifa] talk about fair play, but I don’t believe they are fair or honourable people.” (Paddy Mulligan, May 2010)

Indeed the ‘honour’ of Fifa officials who support authoritarian regimes and make racial slurs can be questioned.

Will Sepp be waving bye bye to football in 2011? Photo: rutherfordinbelfast

According to Jennings (see p86), Blatter pays homage to all nations with a vote in the Fifa elections – even if their leaders are mass murderers!

One of these is former Liberian president Charles Taylor, who is currently on trial for crimes against humanity.

Jennings also cites that Fifa members Jack Warner and Julio Grondona violate Fifa ethics by making racial and anti-Semitic remarks.

At the 2010 World Cup, Nelson Mandela’s grandson told the BBC how Fifa ‘pressurised’ the 91-year-old into attending the closing ceremony despite his poor health and great-granddaughter’s death.

Ex-West Ham keeper Shaka Hislop claims Fifa has a poor reputation because of its leadership:

“Fifa’s credibility problems are of its own making.” (Shaka Hislop, 2007)

The federation has been criticised by large sections for being disrespectful of smaller nations, for example, its decision to seed the 2010 World Cup playoff draw and Blatter’s conduct towards Ireland.

Blatter has brought the World Cup to Asia and Africa. Photo: coda

A month before the playoff ties, Fifa announced that the traditional open draw would now be based on world rankings.

This system favoured the bigger nations; pitting them against the lower-ranked countries and avoiding one another in the process.

In the playoffs, Ireland lost controversially to France after Thierry Henry’s handball set up the winning goal. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) asked Fifa for a replay, but they refused.

Blatter then told a conference of Ireland’s private request to be the 33rd team at the finals, which was met with laughter from delegates. He later joked that it is ‘forbidden to handle the ball‘ at the World Cup draw (see 15.45 entry).

Sports columnist Vincent Hogan says Irish fans have a ‘low opinion’ of the Swiss after mocking Ireland’s appeal:

“The man [Blatter] comes across as a bit of a clown and there isn’t any great sense that he is genuinely interested in fairness or justice. The way he ridiculed us [Ireland] was one of the lowest points in Fifa history.” (Vincent Hogan, May 2010)

England fans too have reasons to believe Blatter is ‘anti-English’.

According to David Yallop in ‘How They Stole The Game‘, Blatter opposed the readmission of English clubs into European football in 1990 following a five-year ban from the Heysel disaster.

He regularly criticises the English Premier League and has resisted several England bids to host the World Cup.

In a recent poll of English and Irish football supporters, 79% of respondents said Blatter should not be re-elected president at next year’s Fifa elections.

By then, his days as the president of world football could well be numbered.

(polls)