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Blatter crushes Hayatou
As many predicted FIFA president Sepp Blatter retained the FIFA presidency. What was not so easily predictable was the margin of victory. After a contest with hostility and accusations that he mismanaged the soccer governing body's finances, Blatter easily defeated African soccer head Issa Hayatou of Cameroon 139-56. He will preside over Friday's opener of the world championship between France and Senegal at the beginning of his second four-year term. "You cannot imagine what it means for me having been during months accused ... what a bad man I am," Blatter, appearing tired, said in a rambling, emotional acceptance speech. "And you all cannot be so bad. So therefore we are all good." He added - in English, French and Spanish - "The football community is not a liar." But few questions about FIFA's financial status were answered, despite the lengthy congress. Conflicting and confusing accounts were presented by rival factions, but the congress approved last year's finances and the next four yearly budgets on a provisional basis. "It's only because we are registered in Zurich as an association and not a company that we are not legally bound to report ourselves to court in Switzerland as legally insolvent," said David Will, chairman of a special internal audit committee. But Blatter claims
FIFA has "hundreds of millions of Swiss francs in our bank account."
And Chuck Blazer, CONCACAF general secretary and a member of Will's audit
committee, added: FIFA also stands accused of ignoring children who are exploited by the manufacturers of soccer balls. "The biggest challenge facing the football world is to banish child labor from the work force engaged in producing balls and other equipment," said Kailash Satyarti, chairman of Global March Against Child Labor, an India-based international coalition of more than 2,000 non-governmental organizations, trade unions, teacher unions and social groups. "As long as children continue to be exploited by manufacturers of football equipment, the game has no legitimate right to identify itself with fair play. "Children continue to be used for stitching balls and forfeit their right to education and recreation. The soccer world doesn't seem to be showing any remorse." FIFA spokesman Keith
Cooper denied the accusations, saying soccer's governing body had been
working on the issue of child labor for six years. Hayatou said giving his full support to Blatter is now in the best interest of the global game. "Very exciting elections, very emotional elections, have come to an end," Hayatou told delegates immediately after the vote. "I'd like to sincerely congratulate Mr. Blatter now, who has gained your trust. I should like to tell Mr. Blatter that he can count on me as he has in the past so he can work as a president should." |
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Roberts
calls it a day Where
is Benin? Ford
stalled by UCB Blatter
crushes Hatyatou Nigeria
with it all to do Gritty
South Africa Metsu's
secret The
next Haile Profiles New
kids on the
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