Its lobby was once the epicentre for a cabal that brought Fifa to its knees and became synonymous with the dramatic police dawn raid that ended their era of dominance in world football. But as part of an attempt by world football’s governing body to draw a line under its past the 36 members of the Fifa Council will no longer stay in Zurich’s luxurious Baur au Lac hotel.
The move will save money, though the alternative accommodation on offer in the nearby Park Hyatt will hardly leave Fifa’s top officials slumming it and its significance is largely symbolic. The increase from 24 members of the old discredited executive committee to 36 members of the new Fifa Council will also mean the bill will almost certainly be bigger in any case.
The Baur au Lac has been used as the main hotel for visiting Fifa executive committee members since 2004. It was where Chuck Blazer, Mohamed Bin Hammam, Michel Platini, Julio Grondona and many other since discredited members would hold whispered meetings or ostentatiously ensure they were seen by the world’s media as they gathered in the lobby.
It was also where the England 2018 bid’s “three lions” – Prince William, David Cameron and David Beckham – sought to woo voters before the disastrous World Cup vote in December 2010.
And it was where, in May 2015, Fifa executives were led from their beds and bundled into unmarked cars shielded by hotel linen in a dawn raid prompted by a US investigation that uncovered a “World Cup of fraud”.
A spokesman for the hotel declined to comment on the loss of an account that had brought it plenty of income but also made it famous around the globe for all the wrong reasons. “Discretion is one of the hallmarks of the Baur au Lac. Therefore,it is our consistent policy not to make any statements in regards to our esteemed guests. We are sure you will respect our position,” he said.
