Look Who it Was Random video

Attempt to topple Sepp Blatter will fail if US attack on ISIS anything to go by

500 views · Published 27 May 2015 · 6:18 · Indexed 14 November 2026

Channel: Public Enquiry · 2015 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

The man hoping to oust Sepp Blatter at this week's FIFA presidential election has said the corruption scandal currently engulfing football's governing body is proof that change is needed.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein - an outspoken critic of Blatter who has vowed to clean up the sport if he is named president - said the arrest of seven high-ranking FIFA officials in dawn raids at a luxury hotel in the Swiss city of Zurich this morning came on 'a sad day for football'.

Two separate corruption investigations were launched into FIFA this morning, plunging the organisation in to unprecedented chaos, with the FBI announcing the arrests related to alleged bribes 'totalling more than $150m (£97.4m)' linked to commercial deals dating back to the 1990s.


Just hours later, Swiss authorities unexpectedly announced they were opening separate criminal proceedings over the controversial awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups amid allegations of 'criminal mismanagement and money laundering'.


+9

+9
Ready for change: Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein (right) - an outspoken critic of Sepp Blatter (left) - said the arrest of seven high-ranking FIFA officials in Zurich was 'a sad day for football'

As it happened: FIFA officials arrested in dawn raid

In the first of two statements he released today, Prince Ali said was deeply saddened by the news that high-ranking soccer officials, including two FIFA vice-presidents, had been arrested by Swiss police and detained pending extradition to the United States.


'Today is a sad day for football,' the Jordanian national added.

RELATED ARTICLES
Previous
1
Next

'This really is a World Cup of fraud and today we are...

US Justice Department arrests up to 14 FIFA officials ahead...

You're done, Blatter: Thanks, America for finally taking...
Walter De Gregorio, FIFA Director of Communications and Public Affairs, addresses the media during a press conference at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, May 27, 2015. Swiss federal prosecutors opened criminal proceedings related to the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, throwing FIFA deeper into crisis only hours after seven soccer officials were arrested and 14 indicted Wednesday in a separate U.S. corruption probe. (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP)
FIFA deny Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups are under...
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Share
15 shares
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said the arrested officials were suspected by U.S. investigators of having received or paid bribes amounting to millions of dollars. 

The timing could not have come at a worse time for Blatter, who is being challenged by Prince Ali for the FIFA presidency at presidential elections on Friday.

Blatter is attempting to secure a fifth term at the helm despite widespread criticism of his leadership during a period when the sport has been dogged by allegations of corruption.

Under suspicion: Seven high-ranking FIFA executives were arrested this morning over allegations of widespread corruption involving sponsorship bids over the past 25 years. Vice president Jeffrey Webb (above) is believed to be among those arrested during a dramatic dawn raid at a five-star hotel in Switzerland
+9
Under suspicion: Seven high-ranking FIFA executives were arrested this morning over allegations of widespread corruption involving sponsorship bids over the past 25 years. Vice president Jeffrey Webb (above) is believed to be among those arrested during a dramatic dawn raid at a five-star hotel in Switzerland

Julio Rocha
+9
Jose Maria Marin
+9
Arrested: President of the Nicaraguan Football Federation Julio Rocha (left) and Jose Maria Marin (right), vice-president of the Brazil Football Federation, were among those taken into custody by Swiss police

Prince Ali was encouraged to stand against Blatter by colleagues disenchanted with the Swiss administrator.

After decades of what the indictment alleges to be brazen corruption, organised international soccer needs a new start. Let me be clear: this indictment is not the final chapter in our investigation
 Acting U.S. attorney Kelly T Currie
The vote will take place during the FIFA Congress on Friday with Blatter widely tipped to win - although it remains to be seen whether today's arrests will have an impact on the ballot.

'We cannot continue with the crisis in FIFA, a crisis that has been ongoing and is not just relevant to the events of today,' the Jordanian said.

'FIFA needs leadership that governs guides and protects our national associations. Leadership that accepts responsibility for its actions and does not pass blame.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3099303/Prince-Ali-says-FIFA-crisis-continue.html

More from this channel