Sepp Blatter on eve of FIFA election: I cannot monitor everyone all the time
FIFA president Sepp Blatter spoke to the world the day after the scandal that rocked soccer and on the eve of his bid for re-election.
•
1 min read
FIFA president Sepp Blatter spoke in front of the world on Thursday for the first time since the scandal that rocked soccer made world headlines on Wednesday.
Speaking at the opening of the FIFA Congress in Zurich, Blatter addressed the crowd and people around the world, noting that he should not be held accountable while condeming the "actions of individuals" who brought "shame and humiliation" to the organization he oversees. Blatter will seek re-election to a fifth term as president on Friday after resisting pressure from UEFA president Michel Platini to postpone the election for sixth months. Platini also asked Blatter to step down.
"Many people hold me ultimately responsible for the global football community. We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all the time," said Blatter. "If people want to do wrong they will also try to hide it. But it must also fall to me to be responsible for the reputation of our entire organization, and to find a way to fix things."
Blatter went on to anticipate that this is only the beginning of the problems that lay ahead.
"The next few months will not be easy for FIFA. I am sure more bad news will follow, but it is necessary to begin to restore trust," said Blatter.
Highlights of the rest of Blatter's speech:
- "The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football, and over this week's Congress."
- "The actions of individuals bring shame and humiliation on football and demand action and change from us all."
- "We cannot allow the reputation of FIFA to be dragged through the mud and it has to stop here, now."
- "We must earn trust back through the decisions we make."
