Zurich — faced with the worst scandal in its 107 years of FIFA, Sepp Blatter a seething that is denied is in crisis on Monday as he moved closer to a fourth term Presidency as head of the world's most popular sport.
With his only challenger, Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar, temporarily suspended along with FIFA Vice President Jack Warner due to allegations of corruption, Blatter said that the two had done "great harm" to football, as the scandal spread to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
During an impromptu press conference at a venue overcrowded FIFA elections on Wednesday, Blatter gave separate answers to tough questions reporters and lectured to behave with "respect" and "elegance" when questioned his 13-year rule.
"You're not in a bazaar here, you're at home, FIFA, Blatter chided a journalist of whistles.
Blatter ended another turbulent day for governing body of world football by vowing to restore order to FIFA and rejected the evidence that his Deputy had suggested Qatar "bought" the right to host the 2022 World Cup.
It came a day after Bin Hammam and Warner were sidelined by an Ethics Committee over allegations that the football leaders of the Caribbean were paid 40,000 dollars each presidential candidacy of bin Hammam now abandoned again.
"The crisis? What is a crisis? Football is not in crisis, "Blatter said during a press conference, dashing and sometimes raucous. "We are not in a crisis, we are only a few difficulties and these difficulties will be resolved-and it will be solved within this family."
Highlighting the discomfort within a sport that long has learned to live with scandal, principal sponsor Coca-Cola joined sporting goods giant Adidas in asserting their unhappiness at the claims.
Coca-Cola said in a statement to the Associated Press that "allegations of current that arises are distressing and bad for the sport," adding "we have every expectation that FIFA will resolve this situation in detail and appropriate '.
To make matters worse, Blatter failed to come out in defense of FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke, who admitted that he had written an email to Warner saying bin Hammam may have thought that "you can buy FIFA as they bought the toilet."
When asked for a reaction, Blatter said "I do not answer this question," before adding, "we will come back within the FIFA on that one."
Organizers of World Cup Qatar quickly and "categorically" denied the assertion of Valcke. Qatar 2022 said it was "urgently seeking clarification from FIFA about the statement from their General Secretary. Meanwhile, we are taking legal advice to consider our options. "
Valcke has attempted to clarify his remarks on Monday, saying that using the word "bought" meant that Qatar was using "the" financial strength of an energy-rich nation to lobby for support, but does not assert any unethical behavior on his part.
"Have at no time did or was intending to do, all reference to any buying votes, '' Valcke said in a statement about his email to Warner.
Bin Hammam said he would appeal his suspension, saying: "the way that these proceedings were conducted is not totally compatible with any principle of Justice" and that they "had been defined from the beginning."
The Qatar of 62 years, which is suspended from his role as President of the Asian Football Confederation, published its submission to the Ethics Committee on his personal site.
In it, he acknowledges that it has provided $ 360,000 "travel & accommodation" of 25 Caribbean Football Union member attending an extraordinary meeting of 10-11 may in Trinidad's native Warner.
The most serious corruption crisis of FIFA was triggered by a test file submitted by Chuck Blazer, General Secretary of CONCACAF and a American member FIFA Executive Panel.
Blazer said there were "more evidence" come detailing what happened when Bin Hammam and Warner organised the meeting of 10-11 May.
FIFA's suspension of Bin Hammam met with widespread anger in the Middle East.
Yousuf al-Serkal, a Vice-President of the Asian Football Confederation and an ally of Bin Hammam from neighboring United Arab Emirates, said he does not believe the allegations and saw them as an attempt to oust him from the presidential race.
"Bin Hammam has been mistreated," said Al-Serkal. "Bin Hammam is the right person that should have been elected."
"All the allegations were just a report," he added. "I'm sorry for the person who I've known for a long time like a decent person."
Newspapers in Egypt were particularly critical of the 75-year-old Blatter.
Al-Dustour daily said bin Hammam "surrendered to the tyranny of Blatter." Al-Gomhuria Swiss President called a "sly fox that cannot be easily hunted" and he compared to the President of that country, Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted from Office earlier this year.
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