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Blatter denies he runs FIFA as dictator Posted: Tuesday April 23, 2002 1:03 PMZURICH (Reuters) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter, wounded by what he called a "campaign of hatred and destruction," denied on Tuesday he was running world soccer's governing body like a dictator. In the latest vitriolic volley before a presidential election on May 29, Blatter said attacks on him had reached "unprecedented levels of defamation" and turned his fire on Lennart Johansson, president of European soccer's governing body and the man he controversially beat in the 1998 election. Johansson sent a letter to the 51 member associations of UEFA last week saying Blatter had undermined Europe's position in the world game and urged them to vote for Cameroon's Issa Hayatou in the May election. In a reply, Blatter said he had been "taken aback" by Johansson's letter and alleged the Swede had persuaded Hayatou to stand regardless of the damage to FIFA's image. Since the 1998 election, Blatter said he had followed "a policy of reconciliation and unity by nurturing constant dialogue ... without any desire to seek revenge." "Not only the fact that the circular and its enclosure contained not a single mention of the constructive work I have been carrying out for the past four years, but also that it arrived at a time when the press campaign mounted some weeks ago in an effort to destroy me ... is reaching new dimensions of lies and unprecedented levels of defamation," Blatter said. "Those who have known me for the past 30 years will be fully aware that I am incapable of what I am accused: buying votes, destroying documents, fear of the truth, dictatorial management of FIFA." Blatter has been hit by allegations that his supporters bought votes before the 1998 election. This month he was attacked by Johansson and others over his decision to suspend the work of an internal audit committee set up to investigate FIFA's finances following the collapse last May of its long-time marketing partner ISL-ISMM. "Why this campaign of hatred and destruction, despite the support voiced by numerous European national associations, major European clubs, top players from many continents?" Blatter asked. "My new projects were impeded even to the point of unhinging them," he said. "The UEFA administration publicly criticized every project emanating from FIFA. "And with the announcement of ISL's problems, attempts to blame me for its bankruptcy instead of supporting my efforts to create FIFA Marketing AG and salvage the situation.' Blatter, who is still expected to win the election taking place two days before the start of the World Cup finals, said the campaign against him was aimed "to create, at all costs, a destructive climate of defamation." FIFA's Zen-Ruffinen declines to withdraw allegationsFIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen, reacting to a 24-hour deadline by president Sepp Blatter, declined on Tuesday to withdraw allegations about "financial irregularities" at world soccer's governing body. "However, he [Zen-Ruffinen] confirmed that, as he had already announced, he would comply with the president's wishes and provide the FIFA Executive Committee, in its capacity as the controlling body, with all the relevant facts and evidence at its meeting in Zurich on May 3, 2002," a FIFA statement said. Blatter, under siege before a presidential election on May 29, demanded on Monday that Zen-Ruffinen give him a written statement by late Tuesday or face unspecified consequences. Zen-Ruffinen said last week that Blatter had suspended an audit of FIFA's finances following the collapse last May of long-term marketing partner ISL-ISMM so the audit members could not question Zen-Ruffinen about them. Blatter's point-by-point reply to Johansson documentLONDON -- Following are details on FIFA president Sepp Blatter's reply to a letter sent by UEFA president Lennart Johansson to the 51 European national soccer associations in which he spelled out 14 areas of concern: 1. Fewer Teams for Europe in the World Cup Finals Blatter says he does not intend to reduce the number of places allocated to Europe. Any changes to the current system must be justified on the basis of sporting merit. Europe now has 15 places in the World Cup and Johansson says Blatter wants European participation reviewed on a new geographical basis. Blatter says 15 includes France as world champions and the winner of a playoff against an Asian side, so the number is in fact 13.5. --- 2. Different Composition of the FIFA Executive Committee Johansson is angry Blatter wants to reduce Europe's eight representatives on the 24-man FIFA Committee, and that the executive committee should be voted for by the FIFA Congress and not the Confederations themselves. Blatter says the number, one third of the total, is not a problem but the European member can form a bloc which makes it difficult for the FIFA president to "steer" the executive committee. --- 3. British vice-presidency put into question In a further attempt to reduce European influence in the FIFA executive, Johansson claims Blatter wants to end Britain's automatic right to a vice-presidency position. Blatter says he is an advocate of the British tradition and supported it at a March meeting. --- 4. World Cup every two years Johansson says Blatter wants a World Cup every two years to "eliminate" the European Football Championship. He says despite strong opposition, Blatter is considering re-introducing the idea. Blatter said the idea has been consigned to the past and he put it forward to trigger debate on a coordinated international match calendar. --- 5. The FIFA Confederations Cup in unsuitable periods Johansson claims the competition remains problematic and is a loss-making exercise for FIFA. Blatter says last year's event helped World Cup hosts South Korea and Japan fine-tune their preparations but says that once the contract for the tournament runs out in 2006 "we should engage in serious discussions about the future of this competition." --- 6. The unmarketable FIFA Club World Championship Johansson says Blatter insisted this competition was launched but there is no appropriate time for it to be played, it led to Manchester United withdrawing from the English FA Cup and it now faces an unclear future after the 2001 competition was called off because of a lack of a sponsor. Blatter said European teams should regard the tournament as an opportunity to "give something back" to less well-off clubs around the world. He says several major European clubs and TV companies are interested in relaunching it. --- 7. Not A Proper Presidency Johansson accuses Blatter of acting as an Executive President and splitting FIFA into two -- with his office and advisors on one hand, and the general secretary (Michel Zen-Ruffinen) on the other. Blatter says it is logical that the president has the executive and administrative tools to implement the program for which he was elected. He warned Zen-Ruffinen, who gave critical interviews about FIFA and Blatter last week, that discussing internal problems in public was "incompatible with his job." --- 8. One Man Show Johansson accuses Blatter of running FIFA as his private property, marginalising members of the executive committee. Blatter says that if a president launches new ideas, this does not constitute an expansion of his powers. It is also the duty of the president to defend FIFA when it is in danger of being "manipulated .. for purely political ends." --- 9. Use of FIFA properties for personal political motives Johansson says Blatter gains personal political advantages through the distribution of money from the Goal assistance project. Blatter says the accusation is unfounded and not backed by the facts. FIFA does not choose countries that will benefit from the program on political grounds or "as a result of the FIFA presidential election." --- 10. Lack of transparency in FIFA finances Johansson says Blatter could have overspent on the budget by some 900 million Swiss francs (US$544.8 million) and there is no transparency in FIFA's finances. Blatter does not address this point separately in his reply. --- 11. Risky Financial Policy Johansson says deals with ISL and Kirch-Media, now both bankrupt have left FIFA dangerously exposed financially. Blatter says a media campaign over the past few months is solely motivated by politics and has nothing to do with the financial situation at FIFA "which is sound." --- 12. What about football? Johansson says there are real issues to be solved in the game like combating racism, new transfer regulations to be implemented -- but these matters are being ignored. Blatter says this idea is 'hard to comprehend' and he lists his achievements in many areas including negotiations over a new transfer regime with the European Commission, an anti-racism conference in July 2001 and introducing professional referees. --- 13. No Role for Confederations Johansson claims Blatter wants to weaken the role of Confederations within FIFA. Blatter says the confederations have an important role to support FIFA's work but says they should not duplicate what FIFA does, make decisions that are FIFA's to make or obstruct direct contact between FIFA and national associations. --- 14. Conflicts of Interest Johansson claims that a number of serious allegations made against certain members of the FIFA executive are being ignored by Blatter who attacks those expressing concern. Blatter brushes aside these "insinuations" as being motivated by politics.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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