In two days, the world of football will decide on the leadership of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in the presidential election amid a bombardment of political grenades against current president Sepp Blatter, which could make the difference.
Last week we heard that candidates Michael van Praag, head of the Dutch FA, and former player Louis Figo had pulled out of the race for football’s highest office in a bid to support main contender Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein in his battle to unseat the long-standing current president.
In a surprise flanking move, Michael Platini, UEFA President and one time Blatter supporter, has recently come out and launched a barrage of criticism against the Swiss, including alleged lies about running again after he stated that this tenure would be his last.
Today, Blatter’s continued Presidency hit an all-time low with the bombshell that six FIFA officials were today arrested on corruption charges in a hotel in Zurich including Jack Warner, the delegate that had allegedly been bribed by Football Federation Australia in its World Cup bid.
The charges against the officials, probably remnants from Michael Garcia’s report into alleged World Cup corruption include laundering, racketeering and bribery.
The Swiss Police have used the upcoming election congregation to make the arrests after FBI investigations into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.
Even though Blatter was not one of those arrested, the incident provides further support to the alleged widespread corruption under his mantle and will provide a further backlash to his chances of re-election.
Blatter’s current term was mandated by some on the belief that this was his last, but his refusal to step down has angered some and it may only be the African and Asian federations keeping him from retirement, but after today’s events, even this support may be terminated.
F.B.I. Director James Comey is expected to hold a news conference on Wednesday morning in New York to provide more details about the arrests and consequences.
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