SOUTH AFRICA: FA chief Sepp Blatter angrily denies his organisation is corrupt as he receives the backing of Africa in his re-election bid

Record ID: 452271

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FA chief Sepp Blatter angrily denies his organisation is corrupt as he receives the backing of Africa in his re-election bid
  • Date: 22nd May 2011
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, (MAY 21, 2011), (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER, 2010 WORLD CUP ORGANISER DANNY JORDAAN AND FIFA GENERAL SECRETARY JEROME VALCKE ARRIVING AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE WITH SOUTH AFRICAN SOCCER OFFICIALS JORDAAN (LEFT) AND VALCKE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "There is no evidence, we have asked for evidence and this famous whistle blower will be in FIFA on Wednesday, and he will tell us if there is something or not, and the evidence of Lord Triesman we have not received them so far. We have asked the English Football Association, the Association in London to help us, but for the time being we have nothing. So there is a principle in life, this is...you are innocent until you are declared guilty, and this is important to say...sorry to say again, I do not accept it, the family of football, that it is said that FIFA is a corrupt organisation, we have over three hundred million people, and even in a family of three hundred million people, there is one or two ...these are what you say are the black sheep....the expression is, somebody who is not good in the family. So it does not mean that the whole family is corrupt, because you have here fifty million people in South Africa, and if you have a case in the tribunal because something has happened and they will say all South Africa is corrupt,...no, so stop please to say FIFA is corrupt, FIFA is not corrupt...definitely not." OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER SAYING: "I have received a lot of compliments, compliments enough to win the vote...I don't know the election, but I have to say that South Africa has made, the legacy of South Africa....and I was also happy now to listen representantives of all the zones here what this football event has given to all Africa and the continuation of the programmes which are running." AUDIENCE/ FIFA OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAHOMED IYA, UNIFAC PRESIDENT , DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR BLATTER SAYING: "We declare full support for the re-election of Mr Joseph Sepp Blatter to serve a further term as from the first of June 2011." VALCKE AND JORDAAN WIDE OF THE CONFERENCE SEPP BLATTER SHAKING HANDS WITH SOUTH AFRICAN SPORTS MINISTER FIKILE MBALULA
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa, South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAABAE5JM1TYUZS28RQJWLGNULD
  • Story Text: FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Saturday (May 21) vehemently denied allegations that his organisation is corrupt.
    Last week, the former chairman of the English FA, David Triesman, told a UK parliamentary inquiry last week that the 2018 World Cup bidding process process was stained by corruption.
    The inquiry also heard that Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 tournament, backed by Asia confederation president Bin Hammam, a Qatari, was also marred by allegations of wrongdoing.
    UK member of parliament Damian Collins said there was evidence from the Sunday Times newspaper that executive committee members Issa Hayatou of Cameroon and Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast were paid by Qatar.
    Qatar and the duo have denied the allegations while the FA have appointed a barrister to lead an independent inquiry into Triesman's accusations.
    FIFA, who suspended two executive committee members from voting on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups following earlier allegations that they had offered to sell their votes, is also to hold an investigation.
    Blatter says FIFA will interview an unidentified whistleblower at the centre of the newspaper allegations concerning Qatar.
    On Saturday in Johannesburg, he went on the attack, saying one or two "black sheep" did not make the whole organisation corrupt.
    "We have asked the English Football Association to help us, but for the time being we have nothing. So there is a principle in life, you are innocent until you are declared guilty. FIFA is not corrupt...defenitely not," he said banging the desk.
    Blatter is confident he will win a fourth term when he seeks re-election on June 1 despite the English FA, bruised by their World Cup bid rejection and wary of stories of corruption within the organisation, saying it will abstain.
    Blatter has already received backing from Europe, South America, Africa and Oceania and his only opponent is Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam.
    On Saturday at a meeting of the Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) presidents, the head of the Central African soccer federation (UNIFAC) pledged African support for Blatter.
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