Newly re-elected FIFA President Sepp Blatter has tried to distance himself from FIFA’s corruption scandal involving $150 million in bribes.
Blatter said Saturday in Zurich that he was not the “high-ranking FIFA official” mentioned in the U.S. indictment who allegedly wired $10 million to CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) officials for a vote to select South Africa as the host country of 2010 World Cup.
“Why didn't the police do this in March when we had the same meeting? At that time, we had fewer journalists," Blatter asked in an RTS Swiss television channel interview. “The Americans, if they have a financial crime that regards American citizens, must arrest these people there and not in Zurich in the moment we have a congress.”
The arrests were connected to a bribery scandal being
investigated by U.S., Swiss and other law enforcement agencies that has plunged
FIFA into the worst crisis in its 111-year history.
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a statement the
goal for the governance of FIFA is to "be responsible, accountable, transparent and focused solely on the best
interests of the game.”
Unlike one day earlier when he said that he could not
control everyone’s actions, Blatter said that he was “willing to accept that
the FIFA president is accountable for everything.”
Regarding an effort by Union of European Football
Associations (UEFA) President Michel Platini to oust him, Blatter told RTS, “I
forgive everyone but I don't forget. We cannot live without UEFA and UEFA
cannot live without us.”
Blatter was seven votes short of the required 140
majority in the first round of voting, but his opponent, Prince Ali, withdrew
before a second round could take place.
After the vote Friday at the 65th FIFA annual congress in
Zurich, Switzerland, Blatter thanked his challenger and praised him for his
integrity and commitment to reform FIFA. Blatter promised to elevate FIFA from
its current critical state of affairs.
Addressing the congress earlier, Blatter said he will
"shoulder responsibility for the current storm" of corruption
allegations. "FIFA needs to recover its good name starting tomorrow,"
he said.
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