FIFA President Joseph Blatter attends a news conference after the FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich, Switzerland, on March 20, 2015. (AP/Keystone, Ennio Leanza)
Finally, Action Is Being Taken Against FIFA Corruption
The Editorial Board – Los Angeles Times
That there is corruption at the top ranks of FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, is about as shocking as Capt. Louis Renault’s discovery of gambling at Rick’s cafe in “Casablanca.” That the legal authorities of the world are finally doing something about it is more surprising, and welcome …
The individual officials should, of course, be considered innocent until proven guilty, but it has been clear for years to followers of the world’s most popular sport that its governing body is riddled with corruption. Under public pressure in 2012, FIFA ordered an internal inquiry, but then last year released only a thin summary of its 430-page report and claimed innocence …
The Justice Department should pursue the investigation as far as the evidence leads in order to root out the corruption and catalyze a cultural change within FIFA.
And that change should start at the top. FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, under whose watch this corruption has flourished, is seeking a fifth four-year term as FIFA’s president in a vote Friday in Zurich. FIFA’s 209 member nations could begin restoring credibility by ousting him…
FIFA’s Corruption Stains World Soccer
The Editorial Board – The New York Times
FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, has always hoped to get America more involved in their sport. Well, they’ve succeeded …
The surprise of the day was not only the arrests and the investigations, but also that Washington would take such aggressive action against officials of a sport that is notably less popular in the United States than elsewhere in the world …
This time, FIFA should not be allowed to pretend that the problem is a few corrupt officials. A first step is the immediate ouster of Mr. Blatter and the restructuring of FIFA. The selection of Russia and Qatar should be subject to rigorous re-examination.
This is a combo of six file photos of the soccer officials involved in the US Justice Department of investigation into corruption at FIFA. (AP Photo/File)
Diego Maradona: FIFA Is a Playground for the Corrupt…
Diego Maradona – The Telegraph
For decades I have lived and breathed football every single day. It is my passion. I am deeply proud of my career and the wonderful support I have known in Argentina and abroad from fans, friends and colleagues on the field … In the last few decades, football has changed – and not for the better. Once, it was a sport you could be proud of, a sport that united the world. But Fifa, its governing body, has turned into a playground for the corrupt …
Under Sepp Blatter, Fifa has become a disgrace and a painful embarrassment to those of us who care about football deeply.
Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona watches the ball as he warms up prior to an inter-religious match at Rome’s Olympic Stadium, Sept. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
