Sepp Blatter said that FIFA will solve its difficulties-CTV. ca

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.

Sepp Blatter said that FIFA will solve its difficulties-CTV. ca

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, second right, holds the World Cup trophy next to FIFA President Joseph Blatter after the announcement of Qatar hosting the 2022 Soccer World Cup in Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday 2 December 2010. (AP/Anja Niedringhaus)

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.

FIFA Sepp Blatter says he is determined to end soccer corruption claims-Bloomberg

FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Photographer: Graham Barclay/Bloomberg

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said he has had first hand experience on football corruption threatening the entity and will try to stop once and for all "the alleged graft, he should be re-elected to a fourth term.

Blatter, 75, has been President of FIFA for almost 36 years with 12 of the organisation is based in Zurich. Over the past six months, FIFA has faced allegations of possible corruption in the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts.

He said someone tried to bribe him when he was Secretary, a position he held until 1998, with a folder containing the money in the pockets of the jacket. He refused to recognize the person in an interview last week, and said the money was returned the next day.

"I refuse because he himself put it in my pocket," Blatter said, unbuttoning the Golden buttons of the nautical sports jacket to reveal a Pocket PC. "I came here for the home of FIFA, gave to the Director of finance and raised the money to the account of the Swiss Bank Corp."

In recent weeks, Blatter meets with some of the 208 national federations which will decide on June 1 if he or challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam, a Qatari who is responsible for the Asiasoccer, will lead the organisation until 2015.

FIFA has revenues of more than 1 billion dollars a year, and questions were put to a parliamentary Committee Britain regarding the conduct of officials.

Former Chairman of English Football Federation David triesman told Parliament that four senior FIFA members asked favors in return for their vote during the race to host the 2018 World Cup, which the Russiawon. The newspaper Sunday Times claimed that two others had been paid 1.5 million dollars to select the host Qatar 2022 World Cup. Two others were suspended last year.

Blatter claims that followed on the world tour. Last weekend South Africa, in him a table using the fist while saying FIFA was not a corrupt organization.

The public perception of FIFA "it hurts me," Blatter said, speaking with a small group of reporters in a conference room called ' fair play ' FIFA on the first floor of 200 million dollars glass-coated headquarters in Zurich.

FIFA opened its new home in 2006 saying the design will be allowed light shining through the building and create transparency that we are in favour. "

Blatter said the company might have for improving communication, especially when it comes to dealing with irregularities. This is confirmed a "zero tolerance" approach to governance and compliance within FIFA if he is re-elected. He says that there are people within football's governing body ' does not deserve to be. "The 2001 collapse of marketing partner ISL revealed some FIFA officials had paid bribes for decades. A Court settlement agreed takeover last year.

Corruption has affected the FIFA's relationship with donors contributing in large part from the 4 billion dollars by the governing body receives from the World Cup. In October Sony Corp. Chief said the manufacturer-sponsored electronics preferred to relate to the tournament and the Governing Council. Sports maker Adidas AG statement said "the negative Tenor of public debate is good for the sport of football and FIFA as an institution and its partners."

Next week the FIFA will meet former Qatar offer the worker who made the allegations about the process of country's World Cup. Qatar said alleged bribe is "completely false" and "value" of evidence. FIFA also expects details from Britain about Triesman's allegations.

Blatter admitted that whatever the results of the investigation, FIFA must urgently with allegations of corruption claims made therein.

"We will be able to find a solution for the handling of the past, so we can stop once and for all, all these images and harmful things about FIFA," he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tariq Panja London , in the tpanja@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher elser in celser@bloomberg.net.

Blatter blames Bin Hammam to bring man suspected of having delivered Qatar ...-insideworldfootball (blog)

By Andrew Warshaw

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.

Contact the writer of this story to this e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You must enable JavaScript to view

Related stories
May 2011: Informant Qatar invited to FIFA to show them the evidence
May 2011: Exclusive-Collins urges World Cup 2022 France if they have proven allegations of Qatar
May 2011: Bin Hammam Qatar alleged Fixer admits is a "friend"
May 2011: Claims of "pure invention" allegations of corruption CAF President
May 2011: Blatter promises to act swiftly to new accusations of corruption