UEFA calls for postponement of FIFA presidential election

by
Christian Hartmann / REUTERS

The European football governing body have called for FIFA to postpone the upcoming presidential election after nine officials were indicted on corruption charges.

Members of the UEFA Executive Committee gathered Wednesday in Warsaw, Poland and concluded that the presidential election should be delayed and that European associations are considering boycotting Friday's FIFA Congress.

"The UEFA member associations are meeting (Thursday) ahead of the FIFA Congress. At that point, the European associations will decide on what further steps need to be taken to protect the game of football," the administrative body said in a statement.

"In the meantime, the members of the UEFA Executive Committee are convinced that there is a strong need for a change to the leadership of this FIFA and strongly believe that the FIFA Congress should be postponed, with new FIFA presidential elections to be organised within the next six months."

UEFA are the only confederation of six that oppose president Sepp Blatter's re-election, and have suggested FIFA need a complete overhaul in an attempt to reclaim any form of legitimacy and public trust.

"Today's events are a disaster for FIFA and tarnish the image of football as a whole," the statement read.

"UEFA is deeply shocked and saddened by them. These events show, once again, that corruption is deeply rooted in FIFA's culture."

The Digest

Everything you need to know about FIFA's corruption charges

by theScore Staff
Reuters

FIFA and corruption have long been intertwined. On May 27, the United States Department of Justice, in tandem with Swiss authorities, attempted to do something about it.

Several FIFA officials, gathering at the lavish Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich ahead of the governing body's presidential election Friday, were arrested in the early hours of the morning on charges put forth following the combined efforts of the U.S. Justice Department, FBI and IRS.

The charges, delivered to 14 officials in total, include corruption and racketeering, and were followed by a later revelation from the Swiss justice department that separate criminal cases have been opened in relation to the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The fallout and reaction, as expected, has been both swift and enormous.

Need to know

  • On June 1, The New York Times reported Blatter's top lieutenant, Jerome Valcke, "made $10 million in bank transactions that are central elements of the bribery scandal engulfing international soccer." The report links Blatter closer to the money trail than ever before. FIFA denied the claims.
  • Who, exactly, are the 14 individuals facing corruption, conspiracy and racketeering charges in the United States? Find out here.
  • In reaction to the arrests, FIFA said there will not be a re-vote over the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively.
  • Russian officials, asked about their concern over Swiss federal prosecutors opening separate criminal proceedings related to the awarding of the 2018 World Cup, seem unperturbed, saying that the country has "nothing to hide."
  • Russian president Vladimir Putin then doubled-down, calling the criminal charges unlawful and putting forth his opinion that the United States is attempting to replace Russia as hosts of the 2018 World Cup. "This is another blatant attempt to extend (U.S.) jurisdiction to other states," he said.

Further Reading/Viewing

  • In light of the explosive events and the FBI press conference that followed, Grant Wahl examines where this sprawling investigation goes from here. [Sports Illustrated]
  • Concurrently, Gabriele Marcotti asks the only question that really matters in this attempted takedown of football's diseased, corrupted governing body: Will this lead to real, meaningful change? [ESPN FC]
  • Speaking of the FBI, many have questioned how the American institution has the jurisdiction to arrest officials from an international organization, in Switzerland. Philip Bump explains. [Washington Post]
  • Disgraced former FIFA vice-president and president of CONCACAF, Jack Warner, was one of the 14 people indicted on corruption charges Wednesday. As has always been his stance, he vehemently denied any wrongdoing in light of the latest allegations, saying, pointedly, "I sleep very soundly in the night." [The Associated Press]
  • In the lightest moment of the FBI's hefty, heavy press conference on Wednesday, IRS chief of criminal investigations Richard Weber delivered a cringe-worthy joke that received much scorn – and rightfully so. "This really is the World Cup of fraud and today we are issuing FIFA a red card," he said. Yikes. [SB Nation]

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