FIFA president Sepp Blatter has remained defiant in the face of fresh allegations, claiming that the recent claims of Lord Triesman and a Sunday newspaper do not require any further proceedings.
Speaking to a packed press hall, the head of FIFA, spoke slowly and purposefully as he delivered the news that few had expected. Blatter said: ‘I regret what has happened. In the days and weeks, great damage to the image of FIFA. There is disappointment for the football fans. I am speaking to the football fans.
“The ethics have returned their decision. I have no right to comment on it. But there have been one or two points of which I want to inform you.”
“The EXCO was very pleased to receive the report of the FA regarding the allegations made by Lord David Triesman against four FIFA committee members.”
“We were happy that we can confirm that there are no elements that would even prompt any proceedings, but for the sake of transparency, but we have agreed that a comprehensive summary of these would be published. “Furthermore we were happy also that we haven’t received any evidence from any announced whistle blower with regards to allegations against two other EXCO members. ‘Therefore the same – what shall we do? Nothing. The World Cup 2022 is not touched, nor is the World Cup 2018. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has confirmed that an email he sent suggesting the 2022 World Cup was ‘bought’ was genuine – but insisted he was referring to Qatar using their ‘financial strength’ to legitimately lobby for votes. The email to Jack Warner about was made public by the banned FIFA vice-president in a blistering attack by the Trinidadian on the world governing body. It referred to Mohamed Bin Hammam, the Qatari who had announced he was standing against Sepp Blatter for FIFA president. Valcke wrote: ‘For Hammam, I never understood why he was running. If really he thought he had a chance or just being an extreme way to express how much he does not like anymore Blatter. Or he thought you can buy FIFA as they bought the WC?”
In a statement, Valcke stated: ‘Mr Warner has published an email which I sent to him. I’d like to clarify that I may use in an email – a ‘lighter’ way of expression by nature – a much less formal tone than in any form of correspondence.
“Having said that, when I refer to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in that email, what I wanted to say is that the winning bid used their financial strength to lobby for support.”
‘They were a candidate with a very important budget and have used it to heavily promote their bid all around the world in a very efficient manner. ‘I have at no time made, or was intending to make, any reference to any purchase of votes or similar unethical behaviour.
“I would also like to clarify that there is, as I said yesterday, no investigation open at FIFA regarding the 2022 FIFA World Cup host election,” he said.
