Closing summary
We are bringing this live blog to a close now, but do join us on the new one, over here.
In the meantime, a summary of where we – and Fifa – stand right now:
- Outgoing Fifa president Sepp Blatter is now part of the corruption probe by US prosecutors, according to reports by the New York Times, ABC News and Reuters.
- Blatter, in a shock announcement on Tuesday, said he would step down as Fifa president, though said he would stay in place for several months to allow a “proper election” of a successor.
- Qatar has responded to claims that more than a thousand migrant workers have died during the construction of its World Cup sites, insisting:
Not a single worker’s life has been lost. Not one.
- The Qatar Football Association also replied snippily to claims by English FA chairman Greg Dyke that they would be having a sleepless night after the resignation of Blatter, saying:
We would urge Mr Dyke to let the legal process take its course and concentrate on delivering his promise to build an England team capable of winning the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.
- Names of potential successors to Blatter have been flung hither and thither, with Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro nominating Diego Maradona for the job. Brazilian former footballer Zico said he might have a punt at it, too.
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Football Federation Australia and New Zealand Football – both of whom backed Blatter’s opponent for the presidency, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein – welcomed the Fifa boss’ decision to go.
- Sponsors, too, seemed relieved that Blatter had made the decision to step aside.
Do join us on the new live blog. It’s this way.
Press Association has posted this round-up of reaction to Blatter’s farewell:
Uefa president Michel Platini: “It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision.”
Former presidency candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein: “I think this is the right move from Sepp Blatter and I think we have to look to the future. I am always there to serve football and I think that’s the most important thing and to do so much work to fix this organisation in a proper way. I am at the disposal of our national associations.”
English Football Association chief executive Greg Dyke: “It’s a brilliant day for the game. If I was the Qatari organisers I wouldn’t sleep very well tonight.”
Former presidency candidate Luis Figo: “A good day for Fifa and for football. Change is finally coming. I said on Friday that the day would come sooner or later. Here it is! Now we should, responsibly and calmly, find a consensual solution worldwide in order to start new era of dynamism, transparency and democracy in FIFA.”
Former presidency candidate David Ginola: “Fifa has lost the trust of the people and of football. It’s time to restore the faith of those who love the game and the trust they have in the people who run football. I said my campaign was just the start of my journey to help bring football back to the people and I stand by my promise to bring reform to FIFA. I will stand as a candidate in the next FIFA presidential election and I vow to bring transparency, democracy and equality to football. It’s time for change. It’s time for a new and honest FIFA.”
Simon Johnson, leader of England’s failed bid to stage the 2018 World Cup: “There will continue to be these questions over the bidding process. Let’s see if the new leadership or interim leadership do anything to resolve that. I want the full facts around the bidding to be known – if there was fairness and transparency then good, well done. If it is found there was improper behaviour in any way they must have a look at whether they should reopen the processes.”
FIFPro, the world players’ union: “FIFPro welcomes the decision of Fifa president Sepp Blatter to resign as this creates an overdue and unique opportunity to fundamentally reform the governance of football. FIFPro insists that only flawless governance will be acceptable to protect the wellbeing of the players and the integrity of the game. The reform effort will fail without the direct involvement of the players.”
Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan: “The Scottish FA welcomes the news today that Sepp Blatter has confirmed his intention to step down as president of Fifa and convene an extraordinary congress to elect a replacement. We, like many other national associations, have maintained that the governance of world football’s governing body requires to be reformed – especially in light of recent allegations – and we are glad Mr Blatter now shares this view.”
Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney: “This is good news for world football and not before time. These are changes that we had called for and had hoped would come. We believe there is now an opportunity for real change and reform at Fifa. It is important that this opportunity to change the culture within Fifa at the highest levels is not passed up.”
Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill, Fifa executive committee member: “Naturally, I fully welcome today’s news as a major step forward for Fifa on the road to proper reform. As I announced following the election at Fifa congress, I simply could not countenance serving on the Fifa executive committee alongside Mr Blatter. I respect his decision but am pleased he is standing aside and by the clear determination for real change within Fifa. This in turn allows me to reconsider my position. Having yet to confirm formally my resignation, I am more than willing to play my part in helping to bring about a positive future for Fifa and to work with the many people within the organisation who are only committed to developing and promoting the game around the world.”
Reuters now says it too has confirmed – via an anonymous source – that Sepp Blatter is being investigated in the US as part of a corruption probe:
Sepp Blatter rocked the world of soccer on Tuesday by saying he would step down as Fifa president in the wake of a corruption investigation that now includes the 79-year-old chief himself.
Blatter, who has led soccer’s world governing body since 1998, is being investigated by US prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a person who spoke on condition of anonymity told Reuters late on Tuesday. An FBI spokesman declined comment.
News of Blatter’s investigation was earlier reported by the New York Times and ABC News. Blatter has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
Fifa did not respond to a request for comment on Blatter being under investigation.
Qatar: 'Not a single worker's life has been lost'
The state-run Qatar News Agency has published a denial by the Government Communication Office of claims surrounding the deaths of migrant workers working on World Cup sites. (Read the Guardian’s investigation into these deaths here and here.)
The Qatari rebuttal tackles a blog published by the Washington Post, which said 1,200 migrant workers are estimated to have died during the construction of World Cup sites, and a further 4,000 could die by 2022:
This is completely untrue. In fact, after almost five million work-hours on World Cup construction sites, not a single worker’s life has been lost. Not one …
Qatar has more than a million migrant workers. The Global Burden of Disease study, published in the Lancet in 2012, states that more than 400 deaths might be expected annually from cardiovascular disease alone among Qatar’s migrant population, even had they remained in their home countries.
It is unfortunate that any worker should die overseas, but it is wrong to distort statistics to suggest, as the Post’s article did, that all deaths in such a large population are the result of workplace conditions.
The Post’s article was accompanied by a dramatic graphic, which purports to compare the imagined fatalities in Qatar with the number of lives lost in the construction of other international sports venues, including the London Olympics, where just one worker was reported to have died.
A more accurate comparison according to the Post’s analysis would have also suggested that every migrant worker in the United Kingdom who died between 2005 and 2012 – whatever the job and whatever the cause of death – was killed in the construction of the 2012 London Olympics.
Qatar’s Government Communication Office says it is demanding an immediate retraction of the article.
A vain hope, one fears, but organisers of the under-20 World Cup currently taking place in New Zealand hope Blatter’s surprise announcement will now allow football fans to focus on their tournament. Nice try.
New Zealand Football chief executive Andy Martin told Reuters on Wednesday:
I wouldn’t say it has tainted the [under-20] competition, but it has tainted the brand of football, without question.
Local organising committee head Dave Beeche agreed:
There is no doubt the media focus has been on what has been happening in Zurich and the quite dramatic changes to the sport globally.
But now the football has started, we’re getting great coverage, ticket sales are going well and we are happy with the way the tournament is progressing.
Blatter is now unlikely to travel to New Zealand for the latter stages of the May 30-June 20 tournament, Beeche added:
It was always tentative until post-election.
We are in close touch with the Fifa people on the ground, but while the expectation was that he would come, things are changing pretty rapidly and we are still waiting on final advice on whether he will come, but that is obviously in doubt with his resignation.
Jubilant comments by the English FA chairman Greg Dyke have not gone down well in Qatar.
Dyke – who had called for Blatter to step aside – said:
It’s a brilliant day for the game.
If I was the Qatari organisers I wouldn’t sleep very well tonight. There has been less evidence about corruption involving Russia.
Qatar was never understandable – to have a World Cup in the middle of summer in Qatar when even Fifa’s health and safety people advised not to do it.
The president of the Qatar Football Association, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Thani, responded in a statement:
We welcome the office of the Swiss attorney general conducting its own work into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
We would urge Mr Dyke to let the legal process take its course and concentrate on delivering his promise to build an England team capable of winning the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.
There’s another contender to succeed Blatter: Diego Maradona.
Admittedly, he’s not put himself forward, but the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro, has said he’s just the fellow for the job, Reuters reports:
“The president of the international football federation should be Diego Armando Maradona or someone like him,” said Maduro during his weekly televised address. “Diego Armando Maradona has been denouncing Fifa for decades; they’ve threatened him and they’ve laughed at him.”
Maradona, who led Argentina to a 1986 World Cup victory, has said he has been “enjoying” the scandal.
He has been openly critical of Blatter and in the last elections voiced support for Blatter’s rival, Jordanian Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein.
A lifelong supporter of leftist causes, Maradona was a close friend of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez and has maintained warm relations with Maduro, who was elected after Chavez’s 2013 death from cancer.
One of the Fifa officials arrested during last week’s police operation in Switzerland was Rafael Esquivel, who is also head of the Venezuelan Football Federation.
“The state prosecutor’s office has ordered a full investigation of the Venezuelan Football Federation,” Maduro said. “I, as head of state, support it entirely.”
Maduro criticised US authorities for operating beyond their jurisdictions, and suggested the investigation was part of a US plot to scrap World Cup tournaments in ideological allies Russia and Qatar.
“They are getting Blatter out of the way so that they can govern Fifa,” he said. “The manoeuvre is meant to see how they can take the World Cup away from Russia and Qatar or to sabotage them so that they cannot shine.”
Here’s Maduro hosting his weekly broadcast, looking pretty Match of the Day himself:
Updated
Blatter 'being investigated by US' – reports
Blatter’s resignation came amid reports in US media that he is being investigated by US authorities as part of their corruption inquiries.
The New York Times said US law enforcement officials had confirmed that Blatter himself was now the focus of a federal corruption investigation, after seven current and former Fifa officials were arrested last week, and a further seven indicted alongside them.
Blatter had attacked the move by the US justice department, saying after his re-election last Friday:
No one is going to tell me that it was a simple coincidence, this American attack two days before the elections of Fifa. It doesn’t smell good.
Why would I step down? That would mean I recognise that I did wrong. I fought for the last three or four years against all the corruption.
But the New York Times now reports:
Mr Blatter had for days tried to distance himself from the controversy, but several United States officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that in their efforts to build a case against Mr Blatter they were hoping to win the cooperation of some of the Fifa officials now under indictment and work their way up the organization.
The FBI has not commented publicly on the claim.
My colleague David Conn has put together this primer on what happens now after Blatter said he would step aside.
And here’s one of the key questions:
Where does this leave the planned World Cups of 2018 and 2022 in Russia and Qatar?
Greg Dyke, the English FA chairman, said immediately that Blatter’s resignation means the votes for the hosts of these two World Cups will be looked at more closely now and Qatar will be feeling uncomfortable. The stance of both countries has always been that they did not do or pay anything illicit to any of the then-Fifa executive committee members who voted, several of whom have now been proven guilty or stand accused of corruption.
On the same day as seven Fifa officials were arrested in Zurich last week, the Swiss attorney general announced a new investigation into the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. Data and documents stored in computers at Fifa were seized, as well as “relevant bank documents at various financial institutes in Switzerland”.
All 10 executive committee members who voted on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups who were in Zurich last week are to be questioned, the attorney general said, “as persons providing information”, not as suspects.
The attorney general’s statement was explicit that “irregularities” and “unjust enrichment” are suspected in the allocation of the tournaments to Russia and Qatar, and suspicions that money was laundered through Swiss bank accounts.
Fifa sought to spin this extraordinary announcement last week as evidence of its own reforms proceeding, because in November it filed some criminal charges following its own internal investigation by the former US prosecutor Michael Garcia. The Swiss attorney general stated: “Therefore, the Swiss proceeding is aimed at persons unknown, with Fifa as the injured party.”
However the irregularities highlighted from the Garcia report by the Fifa ethics committee “adjudicatory chamber” chairman, the German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, were relatively minor, and Eckert found they did not damage the integrity of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding processes. The Swiss investigation, although it followed Fifa’s criminal complaint, appears more far-reaching, although given the questioning of all executive committee members, seems to be in its early stages.
Russia and Qatar will have huge legal claims against Fifa if the tournaments are removed from them and the votes re-run, without solid evidence that their bids, not Fifa’s own executives, were corrupt. That prospect remains a long way off, and the expensive preparations to host the tournaments in both countries are proceeding.
When will Blatter go?
Not immediately. Not even soon.
In announcing his decision to step down as Fifa president, Blatter also signalled his intention to hang on for at least a further six months.
An extraordinary congress would be held to stage another election – possibly between December 2015 and March next year.
Blatter said he would continue in his role until a successor was in place:
I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress.
I will continue to exercise my functions as Fifa president until that election.
So it’s not impossible that Blatter could still be heading Fifa well into 2016 …
The Asian Football Confederation has issued a not-particularly-illuminating statement on Blatter’s announcement:
The Asian Football Confederation takes note of the information issued by Fifa on Tuesday regarding the Fifa president’s intention to step down at an extraordinary congress scheduled to be called later this year or early 2016.
The AFC is closely monitoring the situation, and will discuss with its member associations and sister confederations in order to find the best way forward for both Fifa and world football.
With Oceania, the AFC was a staunch ally of Blatter – a stance which saw member organisations from Australia (in the AFC) and New Zealand (Oceania) publicly distance themselves last week.
Brazilian former footballer Zico has just thrown his hat into the ring as Blatter’s potential successor.
In a Facebook post from Berlin, where he is attending Saturday’s champions league final, he wrote:
Why not? My life has always been in football.
It’s a passion I served with seriousness and respect in Brazil and other countries.
I was sports minister, I have experience with my club and in helping Kashima in Japan. I put football above politics.
Updated
The runners and riders for Fifa president
Unlike last week’s election, which saw only one candidate – Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein – stand against the incumbent, several would-be presidents are likely to come forward now that Blatter’s rule is finally coming to an end.
There’s a handy guide to the candidates here, but these are the names to watch:
Michel Platini
“He will be good president,” said Blatter of the current head of Uefa three years ago. But the pair, one time close allies, have become estranged. Platini declined to stand against his one-time mentor but instead backed Prince Ali.
“It was a difficult decision, a brave decision, and the right decision,” Platini said of Blatter’s decision to stand down. But Platini’s credentials have been called into question over his enthusiastic backing for Qatar’s World Cup bid.
Prince Ali bin al-Hussein
The President of the Jordan Football Association and a Fifa vice-president could decide to have another shot at the top job. Last week he received 73 votes from the 209 members in the first round, enough to force a second round, but conceded defeat to Blatter.
Ali was among those who called for the publication of the Garcia report into allegations of corruption surrounding Russia’s and Qatar’s bids for the 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cups. He hinted he would run again, saying: “I’m always there to serve football. We have to do so much work to fix this organisation. I am at the disposal of our national associations.”
Luís Figo
The former Portuguese international was in the running to challenge Blatter for the presidency but pulled out eight days before the elections to unify support for Prince Ali. He unveiled his manifesto at Wembley in February but was never more than an outsider.
When he pulled out of the race to succeed Blatter, he pulled no punches, saying: “This process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man – something I refuse to go along with” and likened Blatter’s tenure to a “dictatorship”.
Michael van Praag
The Dutchman, like Figo, withdrew his candidacy for the presidency in the run-up to the elections in an effort to get Prince Ali elected. The 66-year-old Uefa ExCo member said when he launched his campaign back in January that he was “very worried about the deteriorating situation at Fifa, the public opinion, the trustworthiness is very bad and with me a lot of people in the world believe so”. It is not yet known whether he will be prepared to stand again.
Issa Hayatou
The president of the African Football Confederation since 1988, he has been a staunch ally of Blatter. In 2011 he was reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee over his part in an alleged bribery scandal. Hayatou was named on a list of recipients of $100m in kickbacks made by the now defunct sports marketing company ISL between 1989 and 1999. He denies any wrong-doing.
In 2002 he ran – and lost – against Blatter in the presidential elections. The 68-year-old Cameroonian would have the support of a huge number of Africa’s member associations and could carry the support of Blatter loyalists.
Jérôme Champagne
Another Frenchman who withdrew his candidacy for the Fifa presidency last time round. The former Fifa deputy general had secured nominations from three federations but claimed he had to back away from taking on Blatter because others felt unable for “numerous” reasons to support his bid.
With Blatter out of the picture, the 56-year-old former diplomat may feel emboldened enough to put himself forward again.
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah
The Kuwaiti suddenly finds himself in a position of influence at Fifa. Levered into place by Blatter to shore up his support in Asia in the face of the challenge from Prince Ali, he has been tipped as a possible Fifa president by those who will want things to remain much as they are. “He’s done a great job for football,” Sheikh Ahmad said of Blatter on the eve of the election. “Nobody can be perfect, 100%. I think he is brave.”
And one who now probably won’t be in the running:
Jérôme Valcke
The current Fifa general secretary would have been among the favourites to replace him before the events of the last week. The Frenchman, who started working for Fifa in 2003, was released by the organisation from his role as marketing director in 2006 after being found guilty of lying to MasterCard and Visa but returned 10 months later, this time as general secretary.
On Tuesday, before Blatter resigned, he was under pressure to explain a letter, proving that he was aware of a $10m payment from South African officials to Jack Warner, described by US investigators as a bribe.
Updated
New Zealand Football is also cheered by the news of Blatter’s (eventual) exit.
NZF chief executive Andy Martin told Reuters on Wednesday that Blatter’s resignation would help football rebuild its tattered reputation.
I think this has lifted a cloud and taken away a lot of the concerns of stakeholders and their association with the sport.
We now want a strong collaborative leader who can bring the football world together and can bring out the change that the game has been crying out for.
Last week, after several senior Fifa officials, past and present, were arrested, New Zealand stated publicly that it would vote for Blatter’s presidential rival, Prince Ali.
Martin said it was too early to say if NZF would back Prince Ali again:
What we need to look at is who throws their hat in the ring going forward.
Whoever is stronger than Prince Ali would have to be a very strong candidate to say the least, but we need to see who puts their hand up and what they’re offering.
I expect [Uefa president Michel Platini] to stand. I think he has been a key power broker behind the scenes. He has been on record that he wouldn’t stand against Blatter – well, now the route is clear for him to stand.
Football Federation Australia has welcomed Sepp Blatter’s intention to resign, calling at the same time for reform at all levels of football’s world governing body, my colleague Mike Hytner reports.
“Fifa needs fresh leadership and the resignation of the president is a first step,” FFA said in a statement. “The challenge is not just to change the top elected position, but the governance structure at all levels and the culture that underpins it.
“Australia will remain an active voice within the forums of Fifa and AFC in promoting governance reform and a new era of transparency.”
FFA voted against Blatter in last week’s Congress in Zurich in a bold move that went against the Asian Football Confederation, of which Australia is a member.
Frank Lowy, the chairman of FFA, instead backed Blatter’s only rival in the presidential election, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan. Prince Ali conceded defeat after the first round of voting.
“FFA believes that profound change within Fifa is needed as soon as possible to address issues of governance and transparency,” Lowy said after Blatter revealed his intention to step down.
But at the same time there were calls for Lowy to step down. A prominent journalist who has been investigating corruption at Fifa for years has called for Lowy, who played a key role in Australia’s failed 2022 bid, to join Blatter in offering his resignation.
You can read the full article here.
Fifa sponsors – many of whom expressed alarm at the spate of arrests last week without actually threatening to walk away – appear relieved at Blatter’s decision to pack it in.
Adidas
The sportswear firm, which has provided the official match ball for every World Cup since 1970, said: “Today’s news marks a step in the right direction on Fifa’s path to establish and follow transparent compliance standards in everything they do.”
McDonald’s
“The allegations of corruption and questionable ethics within Fifa have overshadowed the game and taken away from the sport, players and fans.
“We’re hopeful that the changes being implemented within FIFA will be a big first step in positively reforming the organisation.”
Coca-Cola
The drinks company said Blatter’s resignation is a “positive step for the good of sport, football and its fans”.
Electronic Arts
EA Sports, the maker of Fifa video games, said it is “supportive of Fifa’s examination of its organisation and the important steps being taken toward reform”.
Visa
Visa – the most forceful critic among sponsors last week – reiterated that it expects Fifa to take steps to “rebuild a culture with strong ethical practices”.
Sponsors provide almost a third of Fifa’s revenues.
Australian Independent senator Nick Xenophon said it was a “beautiful day” for football after Sepp Blatter announced he would quit as Fifa president.
Xenophon, a vocal critic of Blatter, attributed the decision to Europe’s threat to pull out of future World Cups amid allegations of corruption over bids for 2018 and 2022.
“It’s a beautiful day for a beautiful game,” Xenophon told ABC radio on Wednesday, adding that Australia should put its hat back in the ring if the 2022 World Cup was stripped from Qatar.
Last week, Xenophon said Australia had been “treated like a mug” in its bid to host the 2022 World Cup and argued that Fifa should refund the $40m the country had spent.
“There must be a re-opening of that bid. It’s not too late. At the very least Australia deserves a refund.”
After a half-time break, this live blog is back in action to scoop up global reaction to the decision by Fifa president Sepp Blatter that he will, after all, though not all that quickly, stand down.
The newspaper front (and back) pages are certainly enjoying the moment:
SUN SPORT: Got Him #tomorrowspaperstoday #BBCPapers pic.twitter.com/U0RNBb3Hzp
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 2, 2015
MIRROR SPORT: A great day for football #tomorrowspaperstoday #BBCPapers pic.twitter.com/QGXvqVcOfB
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 2, 2015
TELEGRAPH SPORT: Good riddance #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/NBYXFbsT2e
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 2, 2015
A typically sober take from the International New York Times:
INT NYT: FIFA chief resigns in wake of scandal #TomorrowsPapersToday #BBCPapers pic.twitter.com/vBS3QyancS
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) June 2, 2015
And the Guardian’s verdict:
Tomorrow's Guardian front page. Downfall: Blatter walks away pic.twitter.com/iyxaBSxd7h
— Paul johnson (@paul__johnson) June 2, 2015
Summary
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Sepp Blatter announced at a lunchtime press conference that he is to step down as president of Fifa. But not quite yet. He’ll call an “extraordinary congress” to elect a new president in the coming months. “Football is the winner,” Blatter said in his conference.
- Reports in the US suggest that Blatter is under investigation over corruption allegations. The FBI have declined to comment but anonymous sources told the New York Times and ABC that Blatter ‘was the focus of a federal corruption investigation.’
- Top football figures have hailed Blatter’s decision to stand down. Luis Figo said “change is coming” while Uefa president Michael Platini acknowledged a “brave decision; the right decision.”
Updated
The Guardian’s deputy editor Paul Johnson has tweeted the front page of Wednesday’s newspaper: “Downfall: Blatter walks away.”
Tomorrow's Guardian front page. Downfall: Blatter walks away pic.twitter.com/iyxaBSxd7h
— Paul johnson (@paul__johnson) June 2, 2015
The Onion does it again:
Sepp Blatter Resigns From FIFA With Generous Severance Bribe http://t.co/SkIJPlwtOg pic.twitter.com/68NjXGoStS
— The Onion (@TheOnion) June 2, 2015
It’s a complex story: allegations, investigations, indictments – and now the announcement that Blatter, 78, would be stepping down as Fifa president. Our chief sports correspondent Owen Gibson gives some more background about why, after 17 years, as virtual head of state, addicted to the power from ruling football’s top body, he accepted the inevitable and resigned.
Owen’s piece – ‘Blatter finally lets go of Fifa as FBI noose tightens’ is here – and gives some more on “the magnitude of the case being built up by the FBI and the US Justice Department”.
US investigators have been co-operating with Swiss prosecutors for months and Blatter is sure to have been in their sights. He must have felt the noose tightening.
Updated
Blatter under investigation, New York Times reports
The New York Times is also reporting that Sepp Blatter is under investigation.
The Times story says “law enforcement officials confirmed that [Blatter] was a focus of a federal corruption investigation.”
According to the Times, “several United States officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that in their efforts to build a case against Blatter they were hoping to win the cooperation of some of the Fifa officials now under indictment and work their way up the organization.”
The Guardian is working to confirm the reports.
Updated
My colleague Tom Lutz has more on Sunil Gulati’s message of “an exceptional and immediate opportunity for positive change”. Gulati said he hoped the decision could lead to reform within football’s governing body.
World Cup sponsors are queueing up to have their say. First Coca-Cola, now Budweiser.
“We expect today’s announcement to accelerate Fifa’s efforts to resolve internal issues, install positive change and adhere to the highest ethical standards and transparency.”
Statement from World Cup sponsor Budweiser on Blatter's resignation pic.twitter.com/yluSEyghYR
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 2, 2015
Updated
He was a great player, scored 1,000 professional goals – and he gives great quotes, too. Here’s former Brazilian striker Romario on Blatter’s announcement.
“His fall will come as a tsunami to every corrupt leader in the confederations around the world … We need the corrupt ones in prison, and we need the contributions from great idols, good sports leaders and football lovers.”
Here’s Romario in 1989, as a 23-year-old colt playing for PSV:
Romario is now a federal senator for the Brazilian socialist party, representing Rio de Janeiro. On October 5 last year, he was elected to the senate with the most votes received ever by a candidate representing Rio state. He’s also been an outspoken critic of corruption in football. Here he is in a suit, not a soccer jersey:
Here’s a perceptive Guardian editorial on the Blatter resignation. The Guardian says “football is the winner” but calls on Blatter to “hand over to an interim president, and go now.”
Fifa 2.0 must have genuinely strong and effective internal safeguards built in. Even more radically, the business of the World Cup could be divorced from the charitable affair of disbursing money to new footballing nations.
Great care must be taken that this miserable, damaging affair does not stoke wider geopolitical tensions between the developed and developing world.
There’s more here. It’s a great read.
Reader Patricia Germann makes a great point about male-dominated Fifa.
New election in December? Sounds like there’s some time to come up with at least a few women to add to your list of potential successors.
How about Anita Defrantz? Decorated athlete, IOC member, and Director of the Women’s World Cup when it was in LA. Or Mia Hamm?
Well said.
Coca-Cola has joined the chorus of praise for Blatter’s decision to step down. Coke said it believed the move would help “Fifa to transform itself rapidly” into a “21st century institution”.
The soft drinks giant added that it expected Fifa would “act with urgency” to address the issues raised.
Hat tip – BBC World. Read the full story here.
That’s in stark contrast to some of Coca-Cola’s previous musings about its association with Fifa. Muhtar Kent, Coca-Cola’s chairman and CEO, talked about Coke’s “big wins” in a letter to shareholders last month:
We led the most extensive global marketing activation in our history in support of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil, inspiring fans across 175 markets, presenting a trophy tour that visited 90 nations and connecting with shoppers through displays in more than 400,000 outlets.
Here’s the open letter. Worth taking a look at.
Updated
Luis Figo has tweeted. “Change is finally coming. Let’s find a solution to start a new era of transparency and democracy in Fifa.” The words of a new Fifa president?
Change is finally coming. Let’s find a solution to start a new era of transparency and democracy in FIFA. http://t.co/XXYt1NfooH
— Luís Figo (@LuisFigo) June 2, 2015
Some strong, but hopeful, words here from Sunil Gulati, the president of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). He says:
The announcement today by President Blatter represents an exceptional and immediate opportunity for positive change within Fifa. I commend him for making a decision that puts Fifa and the sport we love above all other interests. This is the first of many steps towards real and meaningful reform within Fifa. Today is an occasion for optimism and belief for everyone who shares a passion for our game.
An exceptional and immediate opportunity for positive change within Fifa.
Gulati, 55, is a Columbia University economics professor, and a member of the executive committees of Fifa and Concacaf, as well as the president of the USSF.
We’ve just published Owen Gibson’s news story on Blatter’s resignation, a shock announcement “sparking a flurry of speculation over the future of world football.”
In the same press conference room where he had on Saturday faced down questions over Fifa’s culture of corruption and his knowledge of a $10m bribe alleged by US prosecutors to have been routed to former Concacaf president Jack Warner, Blatter cut a depleted figure.
Blatter was said to have spent the weekend since his election victory, following which he blamed attempts to oust him on bitterness from the Americans and English for losing their World Cup bids, listening to pleas to stand down from those closest to him.
Read Owen’s piece here: it’s great.
The allegations of corruption against Fifa individuals was front-page news last week in Brazil – and Blatter’s resignation is all over the papers again today.
O Globo says: “New direction”
Folha: “Corruption topples Blatter”
Lance: “Out the back door”
Pictured with Blatter is the Brazilian João Havelange, Blatter’s predecessor. Havelange, who is 99, served as Fifa president for 24 years, between 1974 and 1998.
Sports pages in Brazil: Globo: "New direction" Folha: "Corruption topples Blatter" Lance: "Out the back door" pic.twitter.com/wqP0JBRfez
— Jack Lang (@jacklang) June 2, 2015
Some news from here in America. ABC News are reporting that Sepp Blatter is being investigated by US officials amid allegations of corruption among several of his Fifa members, according to sources.
ABC reports:
Sources familiar with the case told ABC News today that Blatter is being investigated by the FBI and US prosecutors as part of the probe that led to last week’s stunning indictments.
Blatter was not indicted by the Department of Justice last week but:
The sources said the feds are conducting the FIFA probe the same way they would handle an old-school New York-style racketeering case.
“Now that people are going to want to save themselves, there’s probably a race to see who will flip on [Blatter] first,” one source said, explaining how the feds typically try to get people to inform on their superiors.
“We may not be able to collapse the whole organization but maybe you don’t need to,” one of the sources said.
The FBI declined to comment because Blatter has not been publicly identified as a target of the investigation, ABC said.
Thanks Gerard. Tim here in New York. Who’s in the frame to replace Blatter? My colleagues Marcus Christenson and Sachin Nakrani have given the run down on the possible contenders. Prince Ali bin-Hussein, Luis Figo and David Gill are likely candidates. And how about David Ginola?
I spoke too soon! Before I leave you, it’s time for a recap of the day’s events for those just joining the party …
- Sepp Blatter has announced he will resign as Fifa president
- Blatter will remain in charge until the new president is elected
- The Swiss attorney general (says Blatter is not under investigation by Swiss authorities
- “I am now free from the constraints of an election,” says Blatter. “I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.”
- The election is likely to be held between December and March
- Prince Ali has hinted he will stand, David Ginola has said he will while Michel Platini is also among the favourites
And over to we go to Tim …
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I’m signing off now and handing over to my colleague Tim Hill who will continue to keep you up to date with all the latest reaction and developments. As ever, thanks for reading and for your emails and tweets!
Want to read the Guardian’s view on Sepp Blatter? Of course you do …
Just when it seemed he had survived to serve another four-year term, he went. The laws of politics trumped the laws of physics after all. Only a few days ago, it seemed the irresistible force of the FBI’s corruption probe into world football’s governing body had hit an immovable object in the shape of Sepp Blatter’s resistance to quitting as Fifa’s president. But four days’ reflection and doubtless some bitter argument behind closed doors have allowed wiser counsels and the force of reality to prevail. Mr Blatter was movable after all. And today he quit. He should have done it days, weeks, months, even years before now. But he has done the right thing by bowing to the inevitable.
Click on the below link to read the full story.
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Disbelief seems to be a common theme among the reactions around the world to Blatter’s resignation, and Uruguayan FA president Wilmar Valdez – also the Conmebol vice-president – is no different.
“It’s an incomprehensible decision. He was very certain he could continue. It is clear that someone important got to him in the last few hours for him to make a decision of this kind.”
Let’s not forget though, it’s the same Valdez that reacted to Luis Suarez’s World Cup ban for biting by saying …
It is an excessive decision and there was not enough evidence and I have seen more aggressive incidents recently. It is a severe punishment. I don’t know exactly which arguments they used but it is a tough punishment for Suarez. It’s feels like Uruguay has been thrown out of the World Cup.
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The runners and riders
Unsurprisingly, Prince Ali has been installed as the bookies’ favourite to replace Blatter – he’s as short as 5-4 in some places. Platini isn’t far behind at 7-4 while Figo can be found at 6s and Jerome Champagne is the outsider at present as long as 50-1.
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Peter Oh has emailed, calling for some perspective: “Earthlings may be over the moon at Sepp Blatter’s departure but let’s face it, this is a body blow to galactic football and the dream of an Interplanetary Worlds Cup!”
Luis Figo, another who challenged Blatter in the recent election, even if his candidacy didn’t make it as far as Zurich, has reacted to the news on Facebook – calling for calm while also patting himself on the back for saying this day would come.
“A good day for FIFA and for football,” he said. “Change is finally coming. I said on Friday that the day would come sooner or later. Here it is! Now we should, responsibly and calmly, find a consensual solution worldwide in order to start new era of dynamism, transparency and democracy in FIFA.”
Romario however, a World Cup winner in 1994 and now a senator in Brazil, is withering in his assessment of the soon-to-be former Fifa president.
“This is the best news in a long time. The resignation of Joseph Blatter from the presidency of FIFA represents the start of a new era for world soccer. All corrupt federation leaders around the world will feel their fall coming like a tsunami. I hope that this great wave is enough to wash out all the corruption led by the world’s highest soccer authority.
“Good news for soccer...Now we can say that we have cleared the way for effective change in world soccer. In recent decades, FIFA has become just a machine for making money.”
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Some sympathy for Blatter now, coming from Kalusha Bwalya, the Zambian FA president and former African Footballer of the Year.
“I’m really surprised and shocked. I did not see today coming. But I could see last week in Zurich it was very tough for him. The Western media saw to it and Platini was unsporting in asking him three times to step down.
“The man has done a lot for FIFA. His legacy will be all over the world, even in England and Germany where they have all benefited from the aid he has created. For Africa he was always there, he was always caring.”
Indeed, Ginola’s been on the phone to Sky Sports News as well.
“This man was probably and surely under a lot of pressure and he resigned from the game and now it’s time to reboot Fifa and reboot the game of football and that’s the most important,” Ginola said.
Prince Ali steered clear of actually throwing his hat into the ring, but former Tottenham and France winger David Ginola appears to have shown no such reluctance.
David Ginola confirms to LBC that he will stand to be FIFA President http://t.co/daWMtgU8Po pic.twitter.com/lOqGPF3rqK
— LBC (@LBC) June 2, 2015
The former Club England managing director Adrian Bevington has been speaking to Sky Sports News and, like many of us, has plenty of questions as to what we can expect the morning after the night before.
“Where does Sepp Blatter fit in the process? Where is Jerome Valcke now? We had the letter that was published today by the Press Association journalist Martyn Ziegler, that was potentially a damaging letter addressed to Jerome Valcke regarding the $10m dollars that has been talked about so much recently.
“Jerome, who is often the face, the general secretary of Fifa, he wasn’t there today. It is an intriguing plot at the moment with many sub-plots to it.”
Ruud Gullit is furious, Gary Neville keeps it short and sweet and Robbie Mustoe is over the moon … read how the internet reacts to Blatter’s resignation.
Prince Ali, listed below among the frontrunners to assume the presidency, has strongly hinted he will run again in an interview with CNN.
“I’m always there to serve football .. we have to do so much work to fix this organisation”
John Oliver, who quite frankly tore Fifa to shreds in his Last Week Tonight programme, is among those dancing on the streets and popping the bubbly.
Champagne.... pic.twitter.com/1S8shEcN6E
— John Oliver (@iamjohnoliver) June 2, 2015
Here’s a reminder … although unfortunately it’s not available in all countries.
Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, doesn’t just want to see Gill assume the vice-presidency …
David Gill.....do the honourable thing & please step forward #Fifa
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 2, 2015
Another statement now, this time from David Gill, who met with Blatter’s ire when he stood by his promise to opt against taking up the Fifa vice-presidency last week. In short, he is reconsidering his position.
“Naturally, I fully welcome today’s news as a major step forward for FIFA on the road to proper reform. As I announced following the election at FIFA Congress, I simply could not countenance serving on the FIFA Executive Committee alongside Mr Blatter. I respect his decision but am pleased he is standing aside and by the clear determination for real change within FIFA. This in turn allows me to reconsider my position.
“Having yet to confirm formally my resignation, I am more than willing to play my part in helping to bring about a positive future for FIFA and to work with the many people within the organisation who are only committed to developing and promoting the game around the world. I will speak to my UEFA colleagues as soon as possible about the next steps and make no further comment until then.”
Hello, and let’s get straight down to it with a statement from #NewFIFANow, who unsurprisingly, have welcomed the news of Blatter’s resignation.
#NewFIFANow welcomes the announcement today from Sepp Blatter that he intends resigning from the FIFA Presidency.
This is another encouraging step for football.
However, to achieve genuine systemic reform of FIFA, we need a new FIFA and not one ‘organised’ in the coming months until a FIFA Congress by Mr Blatter’s colleagues inside and outside FIFA House to carry on with the ‘FIFA Way’. FIFA has shown that it cannot be trusted to reform itself.
For this reason, #NewFIFANow will continue to advocate with fans, football associations, supporters groups, sponsors, player representatives and governments for the establishment of a short-term independent reform commission to completely transform the governance of world football.
What is needed is systemic change to the governance arrangements, not shuffling of deck chairs.
Right, well I’m off to have a lie down and to fully digest the news of the past few hours. My colleague Gerard Meagher will keep the reaction rolling along nicely here. Thanks for your tweets and emails on a huge day for football.
A reader, Shaun Wilkinson writes: “Kompany’s after-the-fact tweet got me thinking. In your opinion, why haven’t we heard more forthright opinions from players and coaches about Fifa over the last few years? Is it fear, apathy or just orders from above not to rock the boat?I realise there are probably a lot of footballers who don’t care as long as the bling keeps rolling in, but aren’t you surprised we haven’t heard anything? I can’t imagine many footballers genuinely want to play in a World Cup in Qatar. Get Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar to all say they won’t go to Russia/Qatar, and things will really get interesting.” Personally, I was a disappointed that talk of players and teams boycotting the World Cup wasn’t louder over the past week. We’re still to see what the real reason for Blatter’s toppling is. It could be the Valcke letter. It could be something else. One can only speculate. But we’ll find out.
Still think this is an Onion spoof? Well, see for yourself that Sepp Blatter did say he intends to stand down as Fifa president. Here’s video of the seismic moment that will likely change the direction of world football.
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Right, so who is likely to be in the running to replace Blatter? Here are some of the names being thrown about …
-
Prince Ali bin Hussein (the only man brave enough to stand against him last time out and who has said he will stand in a new election)
- Michel Platini (the Uefa president is a likely favourite but has been supportive of Blatter in the past although recent comments have been more unfavourable against the Fifa regime)
- Luis Figo (was a candidate against Blatter but withdrew before the last election)
- Senes Erzik (Turkish former Uefa vice president lauded by Platini)
- Ted Howard (deputy general secretary of Concacaf)
Though personally I think the ultimate winner could be somebody from outside of football. It feels like there’s a huge craving among the world of football and members of the public for a clean break.
Here’s a theory on why Blatter has stepped down, although I’m not sure I agree with it: “Surely Sepp stepping down now is to prove to everyone that he was more than capable of getting voted back in?” writes reader Danny Marsh. “It was a final flexing of his [snip, snip, snippety snip] muscles.”
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Why has Sepp Blatter resigned as Fifa president? That’s the question that pretty much everybody is asking. Here’s the timeline of events that has led up to the 79-year-old’s decision to step down.
The Manchester City captain, Vincent Kompany, has this to say:
Blatter wasn't sole responsible, more have to follow. Transparency and voting reform, then we move on and bring back ethics. #FIFA
— Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany) June 2, 2015
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Many people are asking whether the Garcia report will now be released in full. Whatever is coming down the pipeline will probably determine whether that happens anytime soon. But the independent ethics committee’s statement in which it said it would continue to respond to complaints and requests despite Blatter’s intention to stand down suggests it could be a little less encumbered by the outgoing president than in previous months and years and means the release of the Garcia report in full will likely happen sooner than later.
“The [investigatory] chamber will continue its mandate along with the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee of consistently ensuring compliance with FIFA’s Code of Ethics and will make this its highest priority, regardless of who is president. The body’s independence from the president, regardless of who is exercising this function, is a key part of good corporate governance,” read the statement.
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What next for Blatter?
Well, this would suggest that Jamie Carragher is not too far off the mark here. Blatter said he’d like to be pundit when he leaves Fifa. But could he work the digital tactics board Jamie?
Got to get Sepp Blatter on MNF next season!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) June 2, 2015
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This email captures the mood of my inbox: “I’m 35 years old. Love most sports. Football has always been No1: despite loving the game and enjoying some great times I think this is the best news I’ve ever had regarding football. I hope this opportunity is not missed.” That was a window into the world of reader Tom Burden’s feelings – and probably true of many other readers.
Michel Platini, the Uefa president and one of the favourites to replace Blatter, has reacted to the news that the 79-year-old is stepping down. He says: “ It was a difficult decision. A brave decision. The right decision.”
The Swiss attorney general (OAG) says Sepp Blatter is not under investigation by Swiss authorities. So if there is anything nasty heading the outgoing Fifa president’s way, it’s not going to be posted from his homeland. In a brief statement, it said:
Joseph S Blatter is not under investigation by the OAG. His announced resignation will have no influence on the ongoing criminal proceedings.
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The “belated” resignation of Sepp Blatter as its president “is only the beginning of the process of change we need to see from Fifa,” says Britain’s culture, media and sport secretary, John Whittingdale.
I’m getting inundated with tweets and emails. It’s fair to say the word ‘shredder’ crops up in the majority of them.
More from the FA chairman, Greg Dyke, who is a bit giddy to say the least: “He’s stood down. He’s gone. Let’s celebrate … this is nothing to do with Mr Blatter being honourable, he hasn’t been honourable in years.”
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'Football is the winner'
Here is the full transcript of Sepp Blatter’s statement:
I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the 40 years in which my life has been inextricably bound to Fifa and the great sport of football. I cherish Fifa more than anything and I want to do only what is best for Fifa and for football. I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation. That election is over but Fifa’s challenges are not. Fifa needs a profound overhaul.
While I have a mandate from the membership of Fifa, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football – the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at Fifa. Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as Fifa President until that election. The next ordinary Fifa Congress will take place on 13 May 2016 in Mexico City. This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the Executive Committee to organise an Extraordinary Congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity. This will need to be done in line with Fifa’s statutes and we must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign. Since I shall not be a candidate, and am therefore now free from the constraints that elections inevitably impose, I shall be able to focus on driving far-reaching, fundamental reforms that transcend our previous efforts.
For years, we have worked hard to put in place administrative reforms, but it is plain to me that while these must continue, they are not enough. The Executive Committee includes representatives of confederations over whom we have no control, but for whose actions Fifa is held responsible. We need deep-rooted structural change. The size of the Executive Committee must be reduced and its members should be elected through the Fifa Congress. The integrity checks for all Executive Committee members must be organised centrally through Fifa and not through the confederations. We need term limits not only for the president but for all members of the Executive Committee. I have fought for these changes before and, as everyone knows, my efforts have been blocked.
This time, I will succeed. I cannot do this alone. I have asked Domenico Scala to oversee the introduction and implementation of these and other measures. Mr Scala is the Independent Chairman of our Audit and Compliance Committee elected by the Fifa Congress. He is also the Chairman of the ad hoc Electoral Committee and, as such, he will oversee the election of my successor. Mr Scala enjoys the confidence of a wide range of constituents within and outside of Fifa and has all the knowledge and experience necessary to help tackle these major reforms. It is my deep care for Fifa and its interests, which I hold very dear, that has led me to take this decision. I would like to thank those who have always supported me in a constructive and loyal manner as President of Fifa and who have done so much for the game that we all love. What matters to me more than anything is that when all of this is over, football is the winner.
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Fifa’s independent ethics committee says it will continue to look at any complaints made against Fifa despite Sepp Blatter’s intention to stand down. One imagines that there is further murky news relating to Fifa heading our way.
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Blatter told Swiss TV on Friday: “Why would I step down? That would mean I recognise that I did wrong.” Hmmm.
Here’s Blatter announcing his intention to stand down as Fifa president. Is it the Valcke allegations alone that have caused this huge event or is there something else in the pipeline?
One assumes that Michel Platini will be favourite to replace Blatter. But let’s not forget that he voted for a Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The FA’s chairman, Greg Dyke, is delighted and asks questions about what will happen to the two World Cups (2018 and 2022) that are at th heart of the corruption scandal that has enveloped Fifa: “Something has come out of the events of last week that has caused Mr Blatter to resign … He’s gone. At long last we can sort out Fifa. We can go back to looking at those two World Cups. If I were Qatar right now I wouldn’t be feeling very comfortable.”
Well, well, well. There were barely 15 people present for the most important press conference in the world governing body’s recent history. I’ll bring you the reaction now …
Domenico Scala: “Fifa is determined to address the issues that are afflicting Fifa. We wany to fundamentally reform the way in which people see Fifa.” He adds that Fifa must not be used to enrich those who have ties with the governing body.
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Domenico Scala confirms that the structure of the executive committee will be on agenda for reform, as evidenced by recent issues.
Domenico Scala (head of audit and compliance committee): “I am dedicated to putting into place the conditions for the election of a new president. There will be reforms to how the elections are conducted. Under the rules governing Fifa, the election must be voted on by members at the Fifa congress. The president will ask the executive committee to form an extraordinary congress to elect a new president. While the timing will ultimately be up to the executive committee the timing of election likely to be between December and March.”
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Blatter goes!
Blatter departs. pic.twitter.com/areGUTZysE
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) June 2, 2015
Sepp Blatter: “Fifa’s interest are dear to me. That’s why I have taken this decision. What counts most for me, is the institution of Fifa and football around the world.” Well, well, well. Will there be a sequel to that Fifa film?
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Sepp Blatter: “We need a limitation on mandates and terms of office. I have fought for these changes but my efforts have been counteracted.”
Sepp Blatter is to resign. He continues: “I will organise extraordinary congress for a replacement for me as president. I will not stand. I am now free from the constraints of an election. I will be in a position to focus on profound reforms. For many years we have called for reforms. But these are not sufficient.” Yes, Sepp Blatter really is going to resign as Fifa president. It’s true.
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Sepp Blatter will call extraordinary meeting for a new election to replace him!
Sepp Blatter: “My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody”. Is he going to resign? “This is why I will call an extraordinary meeting.”
Sepp Blatter: “I have thoroughly thought about my presidency and the 40 years Fifa has played in my life. I love Fifa more than anything else and I only want to do the best. I decided to stand again for election for the good of football.”
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Walter Gregorio: “The Fifa president will make a statement followed by Domenico Scala. There will be no questions taken.”
We have pictures. Here we go …
Watch out Fifa’s about, watch out Fifa’s about, oh you better watch out, ‘cause Fifa’s about …
Maybe Walter De Gregorio is the Jeremy Beadle of his generation and this is his attempt to troll the world's media...
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) June 2, 2015
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Further delay. It’s now going to be 5.45pm. It also looks as though Sepp Blatter and Domenico Scala’s nameplates have been removed, leaving just the head of communications, Walter De Gregorio, to deliver whatever zinger Fifa has lined up for us today.
The Fifa press room has more empty seats than an FA Cup third-round tie between two struggling Premier League clubs.
The, er, world media awaits Mr Blatter... pic.twitter.com/6xE0C9hHg4
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) June 2, 2015
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Food for thought …
@greggbakowski Do you think Fifa is trying to hypnotize us with that music?
— Jeff Woodman (@WoodyHearYa) June 2, 2015
Do not listen to the music, do not listen to the music, do not listen to the music.
So, in the wake of last week’s corruption claims and the allegations that have emerged about Jérôme Valcke today, here’s a bullet-point guide to what has, most likely, prompted this news conference:
- The South African Football Association (SAFA) chairman, Danny Jordaan, denies the country bribed Fifa officials to help secure the 2010 World Cup through payments worth $10m
- Fifa claims Julio Grondona, the former chairman of Fifa’s finance committee who died last year, authorised $10m payments that were ‘executed in accordance with Organisation Regulations’ to Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer
- Letter from SAFA addressed to secretary general, Jérôme Valcke, contradicts Fifa’s claims payments that have been described by US investigators as a ‘bribe’ were paid to Julio Grondona
- Fifa hastily arranges press conference
To anybody who is tuned into the live stream of this press conference, how annoying is that music? One loop that last around three seconds and is vaguely reminiscent of this song by Enigma.
Wouldn’t you know it. The conference has been delayed by 30 minutes! Presumably Sepp hasn’t quite polished his killer payoff.
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There’s confirmation that Sepp Blatter will be speaking at the press conference along with Domenico Scala (head of audit and compliance committee) and Walter De Gregorio, the tin-hatted director of communications who has really had to earn his money in the past week. But no Jérôme Valcke. Make of that what you will.
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And here’s the letter that has, presumably, prompted the press conference:
BOMBSHELL: Letter from South Africa FA to FIFA instructing $10m payment to Warner WAS addressed to Jerome Valcke pic.twitter.com/b0yKBPRAcA
— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) June 2, 2015
So how much pressure will the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, come under after the latest claims made against Jérôme Valcke that allege he knew about a $10m payment from South African officials to Jack Warner described by US investigators as a bribe? Blatter has so far appeared to be coated in Teflon, but the fact that the latest claims involve a powerful man to whom he is so closely associated, really could damage him. Enough for him to be toppled?
Owen Gibson writes:
The revelation will also put the embattled Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, recently re-elected for a fifth term, under renewed pressure over whether he knew about the 2008 payment and what it was for.
Just an hour after Fifa had released a statement denying that Valcke authorised the transfer of $10m to a Bank of America account linked to Warner, a letter from the South African Football Association was obtained by the Press Association that was addressed to the longstanding Fifa secretary general. It showed he was aware of it and contained detailed instructions for payment.
Fifa’s statement had said neither Valcke, Blatter’s longtime closest ally and fixer, nor the president himself “were involved in the initiation, approval and implementation of the above project”.
The payment is at the heart of the Fifa bribery scandal - a US department of justice indictment of 18 people, including 13 Fifa executives, on corruption charges says the money was paid to Warner and his deputy, Chuck Blazer, in return for them voting for the 2010 World Cup to be played in South Africa.
Now, Fifa wouldn’t be trying to duck too many difficult questions by announcing this so hastily would they?
So... Media headcount. Me, Brian from Reuters, a German radio journo from ARD and a gent from the Swiss press. 2 photographers. Cosy.
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) June 2, 2015
Here’s David Conn with his take on Fifa’s response to the allegations made against Jérôme Valcke. It’s fair to say, he’s not too impressed. Here’s a taster:
Fifa saw no need to say it is concerned Warner and Blazer are alleged to have pocketed $3.75m of a “diaspora legacy programme” that was in fact bribes for World Cup votes. Leaving Valcke’s personal position aside, these are criminal allegations, after all the rumours, that World Cup exco votes are indeed bought, that cherished legacy programmes in poor parts of the world – including shamefully exploiting the principle of an African diaspora – are indeed shams and are looted by Fifa high-ups.
This allegation has exploded into the heart of Fifa’s culture under Blatter, and the organisation’s response, blithe, seeking to protect Valcke, while inadvertently suggesting there is a howling lack of checks and few questions asked, itself stems from that culture. Nothing to see here? Not this time, surely.
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Now I’m not suggesting high farce could be on its way but …
Media room not prepared. Staff rushing to install power cables. Clear sign of the haste with which Fifa called this press conference.
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) June 2, 2015
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Just to reiterate, Fifa has not confirmed what the press conference is for. If this ends up being a liveblog to confirm the establishment of a new under-12s world football tournament in Asia, then apologies. But I’m guessing it will focus on the maelstrom of claims that is now surrounding Sepp Blatter and Fifa.
Afternoon. Well, what to make of this then? Fifa has called a news conference at its Zurich HQ presumably – but we don’t know for sure – to address the latest corruption claims surrounding world football’s governing body, the most crucial being the news that new evidence has emerged showing that Jérôme Valcke, the powerful secretary general, was aware of a $10m payment from South African officials to Jack Warner described by US investigators as a bribe. It’s slated to start at 5pm BST. I’ll keep you updated from here.
