Blatter breaks silence on FIFA charges: 'We will work vigorously to regain your trust'

by
Arnd Wiegmann / Reuters

Sepp Blatter has spoken, and – as was to be expected – has managed to say nothing much at all.

The embattled FIFA president, who avoided any involvement in Wednesday morning's incredible events in Zurich that saw several FIFA officials arrested on widespread corruption charges, released a statement on the matter, which can be read in full below.

This is a difficult time for football, the fans and for FIFA as an organisation. We understand the disappointment that many have expressed and I know that the events of today will impact the way in which many people view us.

As unfortunate as these events are, it should be clear that we welcome the actions and the investigations by the US and Swiss authorities and believe that it will help to reinforce measures that FIFA has already taken to root out any wrongdoing in football.

While there will be many who are frustrated with the pace of change, I would like to stress the actions that we have taken and will continue to take. In fact, today’s action by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General was set in motion when we submitted a dossier to the Swiss authorities late last year.

Let me be clear: such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game. Following the events of today, the independent Ethics Committee – which is in the midst of its own proceedings regarding the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups - took swift action to provisionally ban those individuals named by the authorities from any football-related activities at the national and international level. These actions are on top of similar steps that FIFA has taken over the past year to exclude any members who violate our own Code of Ethics.

We will continue to work with the relevant authorities and we will work vigorously within FIFA in order to root out any misconduct, to regain your trust and ensure that football worldwide is free from wrongdoing.

The Teflon president, 79, is widely expected to be re-elected as the head of football's governing body on Friday, when Blatter will be seeking a fifth consecutive term at the helm of FIFA.

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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