Who claimed that Switzerland encourages calm and serenity? The day after the arrest of seven world football leaders on suspicion of corruption, the day of May 28 left no respite for lovers of scandal and sensationalism. An endless whirlwind, with the city of Zurich, headquarters of FIFA, in the background, Sepp Blatter in the lead role and an incalculable number of different actors, some of whom were not expected. Proof of the impact of the affair, and of the universality of football, the whole world was invited to the stage.
Let’s quickly move on to the anecdotal and the superfluous. For example, the very solemn declaration of David Ginola, former star striker, eccentric and episodic candidate for the presidency of FIFA, suggesting with the air of a connoisseur that Sepp Blatter was “necessarily responsible”. The scoop. Or the position taken by Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, affirming from Moscow that the United States would have provoked the scandal to “prevent Blatter’s re-election”. Dare. Let us also pass on the more or less relevant opinions expressed by heads of state or government, the prize going to David Cameron, the British Prime Minister going so far as to declare himself in favor of Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, the Jordanian rival of Sepp Blatter. Since when has he been voting?
Difficult to find your way in such a cacophony. But a few facts and statements deserve to be highlighted. They allow us to see a little more clearly, on the eve of an election for the presidency of FIFA which promises, on Friday, to be the most media-rich in the history of football.
– The Confederation of African Football (CAF) does not move an eyelash despite the storm. In a press release, she declared herself opposed to a postponement of the FIFA Congress (opening this Thursday, May 28 at the end of the afternoon) and renewed her support for Sepp Blatter.
– South Africa on Thursday rejected accusations of corruption during the awarding of the 2010 World Cup. Its minister in the presidency, Jeff Radebe, assured that his country had “received an impeccable audit” from the Ernst&Young firm.
– Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko assured from Moscow that there was “no risk” that Russia would be stripped of the organization of the World Cup in 2018.
– Visa, one of FIFA's official sponsors, said via a press release that it would consider ending its partnership if the international federation did not quickly take all necessary measures to restore its reputation and that of football.
– Australia announced it would vote against Sepp Blatter, with UEFA following suit by saying “the majority of its members” would side with Prince Ali in the election.
– Michel Platini, the president of UEFA, indicated in the middle of the day that he had asked Sepp Blatter to resign, during a meeting of the heads of continental confederations, organized the same morning in Zurich.
– The seven FIFA leaders arrested Wednesday morning in their Zurich hotel specified, according to Swiss police, that they would oppose their extradition to the United States.
– The Uruguayan association of professional footballers announced that it would request “an end to the suspension” imposed by FIFA on Luis Suarez, its star striker (sanctioned with a 9-match suspension from the national team after biting an Italian defender at the World Cup 2014), the sanction having been pronounced by “an organization suspected of corruption”.
– Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC, invited himself into the debate by asking FIFA to “shed light on the accusations of corruption”. He recalled that Agenda 2020 insisted on “the principle of zero tolerance in the fight against corruption”.
– Finally, the best for last. In his opening speech at the 65th FIFA Congress, Sepp Blatter said: “I cannot monitor everyone. If some people want to do bad things, they will also try to hide from it. The next few months will not be easy for FIFA. I'm sure there's more bad news to come. But it’s important to restore trust.”
