"THE WORLD CUP OF FRAUD"
BLATTER SCORES INCREDIBLE OWN GOAL
Maybe Mr. Joseph Blatter read our online edition yesterday morning as he prepared to do what one of our columnists asked him to do without delay - to quit FIFA because the events of the last couple of weeks proved beyond all reasonable doubt that FIFA is a CORRUPT ORGANISATION headed by a man who was only concerned about staying in office for life. Even if that meant allowing those holding the levers of power in FIFA both at headquarters and around the world to do what they like with FIFA's money and reputation.
We are definitely not sorry that Blatter is gone. In fact he should have left office four years ago. Let's look through the speech in which he announced his incredible own goal.
BLATTER - "I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the 40 years in which my life has been inextricably bound to Fifa and the great sport of football.
"I cherish Fifa more than anything and I want to do only what is best for Fifa and for football. I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation. That election is over but Fifa's challenges are not. Fifa needs a profound overhaul.
POLITICO - How did this guy away with this? 40 years working in the same place? The world would take no lessons from you about what to do with FIFA. Just leave. Do you cherish FIFA more than your family? And would that include that daughter of yours who's been trying to close the stables long after the horses had bolted? Hahahahahahahah, Blatter didn't see the horses leave. Sorry!
BLATTER "While I have a mandate from the membership of Fifa, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football - the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at Fifa."
"Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as Fifa president until that election.
POLITICO - Look at this guy trying to take us for a ride. The guy knew that many people in the game were totally fed up with his administration long before this congress. How dare you tell us you only noticed that on Tuesday, four days after being elected to a 5th term? You said in your post-election speech you were now president for all. What were you thinking?
BLATTER - "The next ordinary Fifa congress will take place on 13 May 2016 in Mexico City. This would create unnecessary delay and I will urge the executive committee to organise an extraordinary congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity.
"This will need to be done in line with Fifa's statutes and we must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign.
POLITICO - Sorry Mr Joseph Blatter, on behalf of the millions of football fans in Sierra Leone, we gleefully accept your resignation and urge you to go before the end of July. We really can't wait another six months. We already have competent and credible candidates waiting to take your place. LEAVE!
The controversially-elected president of the Sierra Leone Football Association, SLFA is not part of this message. She has her own views about the fall of her best friend.
BLATTER - "It is my deep care for Fifa and its interests, which I hold very dear, that has led me to take this decision. I would like to thank those who have always supported me in a constructive and loyal manner as president of Fifa and who have done so much for the game that we all love.
"What matters to me more than anything is that when all of this is over, football is the winner."
POLITICO - Actually, the highly respected New York Times is now reporting that Mr Joseph Blatter is being investigated by the powerful FBI. They are quoting US department of Justice sources - does that ring a bell? We believe that a man who went through all manner of humiliation in front of the world just to win an election, wouldn't resign three days later saying he cared more for the organisation. Mr Joseph Blatter, here's what we think; the Americans are closing in on you and your lawyers have told you to quit so that the Americans can get off your back. That's the deal. You care more for your skin, than FIFA.
ISHA JOHANSEN ON BLATTER'S RESIGNATION
When we gleefully accepted Mr Joseph Blatter's enforced resignation elsewhere in this document, we made it clear that the Queen of Salone Football wasn't part of that decision. The world heard her on Wednesday morning saying it was "unfortunate" that Blatter resigned. The Queen is refusing to move on from the Blatter years.
The Queen told the world Blatter brought "TRANSPARENCY, COMMITMENT AND INTEGRITY" to world football. We were stunned. Is she talking about the same 79 year old guy that just resigned? The Queen is out of touch with the reality of the last 48 hours. Let's take her words one after the other in relation to Mr Joseph Blatter.
TRANSPARENCY - Can anybody tell us that FIFA is a transparent body? Start with the salaries and allowances of Blatter and his staff in Zurich, that's TOP SECRET. Even the SLFA in Sierra Leone is not open for us to see. At the recent abortive Congress in Makeni, the list of the SLFA's delegates was more closely guarded than the indictments the Americans unveiled for FIFA officials recently. There is no transparency in FIFA and the local games around the world.
COMMITMENT - If Blatter was committed to anything, it is holding on to power in Zurich. For us in Sierra Leone, the SLFA's commitment to football runs along the same lines. There's nothing happening at football headquarters in Freetown. The Queen and her people just like to be in office - delegates or no delegates.
INTEGRITY - We are prepared to allow the Queen to withdraw this last word, INTEGRITY. There are many issues hanging on integrity as far as Blatter and FIFA as an organisation are concerned. Our eyes and ears are fixed on the case in America. A lot will come to light soon. For now, we can highlight that TEN MILLION DOLLAR so-called African diaspora football development money that went to Jack Warner's project. FIFA deducted the cash from money belonging to South Africa. Blatter knows about it.
Look at those seven FIFA people who were taken out of their luxurious hotels two days to the FIFA congress. Those are Blatter's men. Where is this integrity thing the Queen is talking about?
We understand the ACC in Sierra Leone has been sitting on complaints alleging corruption against the SLFA for a long time. We want answers from them now. Blatter told the world that the Swiss end of the investigation was initiated by FIFA. So FIFA reported corruption allegations to the Swiss police? Why does FIFA then continuously bang on about POLITICAL INTEFERENCE in football. The Swiss police is an agency of the government of Switzerland. The ACC is an agency of the government of Sierra Leone. Let them investigate the SLFA
Mr Blatter told the world: "While I have a mandate from the membership of Fifa, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football - the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at Fifa."
Blatter scored 133, just short of an outright victory in the last election. In Sierra Leone, the Queen went unopposed and but has so far not found an opportunity to test her popularity with delegates. We are sure that 35 of 47 delegates are ready to impeach her right now. Do you now see why SLFA Congress cannot hold? POWER WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
© Politico 04/06/15
