TI calls for postponement of FIFA presidential election
Transparency International is calling on world soccer governing body FIFA to postpone its presidential elections set for Wednesday 1 June.
The global anti-corruption agency wants the FIFA elections postponed so that an independent investigation into all allegations of corruption against its executives can be carried out."Free and fair elections cannot take place when there is a suspicion that voters may have been swayed. Two major figures in football politics have been suspended recently for alleged vote-buying. FIFA delegates know that they must clean house if their vote is to have legitimacy,” said Sylvia Schenk, Transparency International Senior Advisor on Corruption in Sport.
“All eyes in world football are upon the FIFA delegates. FIFA should be setting a better example to its billions of supporters and especially to young fans that look to the sport for inspiration and role models,” added Schenk.
TI’s call comes after the suspension of FIFA Executive Committee members Jack Warner and Mohammed bin Hammam.
The two major figures in football politics were suspended Sunday by FIFA’s ethics committee for alleged vote-buying.
Bin Hammam, who was due to contest against Sepp Blatter on Wednesday, withdrew following the race.
On Monday, Blatter told reports at a press briefing at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich that the elections would go ahead and that there was no crisis in the world governing body, despite the great damage done to its image by the ongoing corruption allegations.
He said FIFA was not in crisis, but only some difficulties, which can be resolved internally.
Blatter brushed off suggestions from the British government among others that Wednesday’s presidential election, for which he is the only candidate, should be suspended.
He said if governments intervened then something was wrong.
Below is the full interview of Sylvia Schenk with WADR Harrison Akoh
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