21 May-with 10 days to go until presidential elections, FIFA Sepp Blatter took another opportunity today to address African football leader before moving to Japan for the final leg of its lobbying campaign.
As the anniversary of a year of last year's World Cup beckons, Blatter attended a meeting of various regional groups in Africa in Johannesburg, apparently to discuss the legacy of the tournament.
But also gave him the perfect opportunity to meet with 37 members of the Confederation of African football (CAF) for the last time before the elections as he seeks a fourth term as head of world soccer on June 1.
Among the participants were the Chairman of the Board of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Suketu Patel, President of the Council of East and Central African football associations (CECAFA) Leodegar Tenga, President of Union des associations de Football d'Afrique Centrale (UNIFAC) suited Iyathe Secretary General of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Aka Malan and President of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Kirsten Nematandani.
At a press conference later, Iya read a statement indicating the strong support of the whole group for the re-election of Blatter.
"The national associations of various regions in Africa, namely COSAFA, CECAFA, UNIFAC and WAFU gathered in Johannesburg on May 21, 2011, at the meeting of the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the African continent, declare our support for the re-election of Mr Joseph Blatter for a further term in Office from June 1 2011, "said the statement.
In spite of the CAF Executive Committee has also openly declared its support for Blatter, his challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar, however, is believed to have a significant support among 53 member associations of Africa-a quarter of the total membership of FIFA.
Blatter said all the right things, praising the Organization and the passion of the armies of the World Cup last year and reserving special praise for the former South African President Nelson Mandela, who plays a role of ambassadors.
The trip gave him a rare respite from the latest wave of allegations of corruption swirling around FIFA.
But just before leaving, he was questioned by reporters on the role of Amadou Diallo, former FIFA employee based in Paris but originally from Guinea, it is argued, was the go-between when bribes allegedly were paid with Qatar to African FIFA members in exchange for support in their bid for 2022 World Cup.
Bin Hammam and Blatter are playing down their association with alleged Fixer who worked on Goal, the Bureau of the FIFA Committee headed by Bin Hammam which distributes money to football development projects worldwide.
Diallo was paid on a freelance basis from 2001 to 2007 directly from the budget of Bin Hammam and emerged as a key player in the latest corruption claims that suggest that Qatar paid $ 1.5 million (£ 917,000) and Issa Hayatou of Cameroon and Jacques Anouma of Côte d'Ivoire.
Blatter confirmed to reporters that Diallo was at one time on the payroll of FIFA and who was not happy that the man himself is now involved in allegations of corruption.
Mentioning it was the responsibility of Bin Hammam took Diallo, Blatter said: "disappoints me.
"I knew Diallo, because it was around before we started with the project goal was brought by Bin Hammam.
"He is everywhere this guy".
Blatter said the majority of people employed by FIFA were good-natured and refrained from dishing any dirt after leaving the organization.
But he admitted there were exceptions.
He said: "there are those who have left FIFA, directly or indirectly, and are now the informers around the world, not only now but also before.
"This is a question of character.
"So ask Diallo that if he is happy in his position, what he is doing. Is a small, handsome, smiling, always smiling. "
Speaking to newsmen, Blatter revealed last week that the person who has been helping the newspaper The Sunday Times in its investigation of corruption, portrayed as a former employee of bid Committee of Qatar, was asked to provide proof to FIFA.
It is not known whether or when the person involved actually will travel to Zurich, but insideworldfootball understand that certain conditions were established to protect the identity of the person and that a law firm based in London was asked to act on behalf of the source.
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