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Fifa president Sepp Blatter under investigation

Blatter is bidding for a fourth presidential term at Fifa

Fifa has opened ethics proceedings against its president, Sepp Blatter.

The action follows a charge by Mohamed Bin Hammam, his rival in next week’s presidency election, that Blatter knew about alleged cash payments.

Bin Hammam and vice-president Jack Warner will also be at Sunday’s hearing to answer charges of bribery.

Blatter issued a statement saying: “I cannot comment on the proceedings that have been opened against me. The facts will speak for themselves.”

The ethics committee are bound by their rules to investigate any complaint by an executive committee member under article 16 of the ethics code.

Bin Hammam and Warner face allegations from executive committee member Chuck Blazer that they offered bribes at a meeting of the Caribbean Football Union on 10 and 11 May.

A file of evidence claims bundles of cash of up to $40,000 were handed over to members of the CFU at the meeting in Trinidad.

In turn, Bin Hammam is effectively claiming Blatter was aware of some wrongdoing but did not report it, in itself a breach of the code.

The committee, chaired by Namibian judge Petrus Damaseb, will also be under pressure to decide whether Blatter will face any charges or not.

The move to place Blatter, one of the most powerful men in football, under investigtion is the latest twist in an increasingly bitter fight for the presidency of the sport’s global governing body.

And it also follows weeks of damging headlines and allegations in the wake of the vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Analysis

David Bond,
BBC sports editor

Fifa is now an organisation completely at war and many will say they should suspend the presidential election

BBC sports editor David Bond said: “Fifa is now an organisation completely at war. They cannot possibly continue in this way and many people will say they should suspend the presidential election, which takes place next Wednesday.

“Under Fifa’s ethics code, they are duty bound, if a member of the executive committee makes a complaint to the ethics committee, to then investigate it.

“So, it may be that the allegations against Blatter don’t come to much, and the allegations against Bin Hammam and Warner could be far more serious. Ultimately it seems the evidence against Blatter is only Bin Hammam’s word against his.

“It is very difficult to predict exactly what will happen next, but it’s hard to see this as anything other than a watershed moment for Fifa.

“It feels like at last the dam is breaking around them. It is a bit like the scene at the end of Reservoir Dogs when everyone has a gun pointed at each other’s heads.”

Blatter has been president of Fifa since 1998.

Meanwhile, the FA is due to send to Fifa the report they commissioned by barrister James Dingemans QC into claims by their ex-chairman, Lord Triesman, that Warner and three other executive committee members made improper requests during England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

It is understood that only the claims against Warner have been corroborated by witnesses.

The claim that Warner asked for financial help to build an education centre has been backed up by Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards, while Dingemans’ file also includes an email from Warner to Triesman asking the FA to pay for Haiti’s World Cup TV rights.

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Africa’s World Cup Representation in Danger

The Black Stars of Ghana were the only African team to get to the knock-out stages in 2010

Football’s world governing body Fifa is meeting to decide how many places each continent receives at the next World Cup in 2014.

Six African nations took part in the 2010 tournament, because South Africa were the hosts.

The continent will almost certainly be cut back to five representatives for the next finals in Brazil.

There is a chance the figure could drop further, with other regions pressing hard for more places.

Africa’s performance in 2010, where of the continent’s contenders only Ghana made it out of the knock-out stages, will count against it.

Political pressures and lobbying in the expected tussle between incumbent Fifa president Sepp Blatter and his likely challenger Mohamed Bin Hammam will also have an impact.

Bin Hammam has been pushing for an increased representation from his Asian Confederation – which had four places plus a play-off against Oceania for South Africa.

Concacaf, the North and Central American and Caribbean region, is also pressing especially hard for more places than the current three plus a play-off spot.

South America is likely to get an extra berth because Brazil are the hosts.

Fifa is set to announce the decision at a news conference on Thursday, following a two-day meeting in Zurich.

Fifa is also going to announce Canada as the hosts of the 2015 Women’s World Cup – they are the only contenders after Zimbabwe pulled out of the running.

In addition, Ghana will find out whether it will host the U17 World Cup in 2013 and the U17 women’s competition in 2014 while Tunisia has bid for the U17 World Cup in 2015 and the U20 event in 2015.

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Fifa Offers Sympathy to Somalia

Fifa President Sepp Blatter has offered sympathy to Somalia after one of the country’s best young players was killed by a suicide bomber in Mogadishu.

Under-20 international Abdi Salaan Mohamed Ali was among 10 people killed when a car bomb exploded on Monday.

Two other players, Mahmoud Amin Mohamed and Siid Ali Mohamed Xiis, were among 35 people injured.

Blatter wrote to Somali federation chief Said Mahmoud Nur “with a sad heart, having learned of the tragedy”.

“On behalf of Fifa… I wish to extend our condolences to you, the Somalian football community and, most importantly, all family, friends and loved ones of the victims,” the Fifa chief added.

“Please let them know that today, the football community stands by their side.”

Ali died after being struck by the blast following a training session near the police academy which was targeted by the bomber, while Mohamed and Xiis were wounded as they walked home.

A militant Islamic group claimed responsibility for the attack.

“On behalf of the entire family of Somali football I am sending my heartfelt condolence to the families, relatives and friends of the slain football player Abdi Salaan Mohamed Ali,” said Nur in a statement.

“He was one of our best players and was recently added to the national U-20 squad.”

The statement added that a book of condolence has been opened at the Somali Football Federation’s headquarters in Mogadishu where thousands have already conveyed their sadness.

“We are committed to continuing our duty in the war-torn country until we meet death,” the president said in his statement on Monday.

Blatter and Nur are likely to meet this week, with both scheduled to attend the Confederation of African Football’s general assembly in Sudan on Wednesday.

Somalia are one of Africa’s weakest footballing nations, ranked 176th in the world by Fifa, and without an Africa Cup of Nations appearance to their name.

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Nigeria’s Adamu Bent on Clearing His Name

Nigerian official Amos Adamu says he is more desperate to clear his name than to re-enter the top echelons of Fifa.

Last week, world football’s governing body rejected Adamu’s appeal against his three-year ban for breaching Fifa’s Code of Ethics.

The 58-year-old confirmed on Monday that he will take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

“I’m desperate to prove my innocence on these corruption charges,” Adamu told BBC Sport.

“I am not desperate to be in either Fifa or the Confederation of African Football (Caf).”

The former Executive Committee member was suspended by Fifa in November after claims he had asked for money in exchange for his 2018 and 2022 World Cup votes.

The Appeals Committee’s announcement on Friday upheld the ban, prompting Adamu to hint that football politics lie behind the decision.

“I can’t say much at the moment [for legal reasons] but I can say there is more to it than meets the eye,” the Nigerian told BBC Sport.

Furthermore, Adamu claims his quotes were taken out of context by the Sunday Times, the British newspaper that conducted the investigation.

“They edited it to make it look as though I said send money to me directly,” the Nigerian explained.

One of the key points of the Sunday Times’ reports surrounded the claim that Adamu had asked for US$800,000 to be directed into his bank account to pay for four pitches in Nigeria.

However, Adamu says he later expressed a preference for the undercover reporters, posing as lobbyists for the United States bid, to ship grass for the pitches to Nigeria themselves – rather than transfer money to any account.

“What was pushed out to the public was heavily edited,” ,” says the head of the West African Football Union (Wafu).

“Of course they wanted to give me money. I said ‘no, if you want to invest in pitches in Nigeria, you buy them and send them to Nigeria yourself’. They cannot put grass into my bank account.

“I’m certainly not a corrupt football administrator.

“Just look at my work with Wafu. Up till now, I still pay the salary of the workers there myself without receiving any money in return.”

Adamu, who maintains his innocence, is still unclear why Fifa’s Appeals Committee rejected his attempt at overturning his ban last week.

The decision means the Caf vice-president cannot re-contest his position on the Executive Committees for both Fifa and Caf when the latter holds its General Assembly on 23 February.

With his administrative career on the ropes, the Nigerian is concentrating his efforts on clearing his name.

“This is a hard time and a long process but the end will justify the means.

“Sometimes it takes a long time for the truth to come out. When the truth comes out, people will know I meant well for football.”

Meanwhile, the Sunday Times has told the BBC that they stand by the story they wrote and feel vindicated by both Fifa and its Appeals Committee.

(credit BBC sports)
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Tshabalala Wants to Play in Europe

Siphiwe Tshabalala of South African Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs
Nyarko Benso

Siphiwe Tshabalala, the South African soccer star who scored the first goal during the 2010 FIFA world Cup says he dreams of playing in Europe.

Tshabalala’s thunderous 55th-minute strike against Mexico that opened the scoring board in South Africa was nominated at the FIFA Puskas Awards but Turkey’s Hamit Altintop took the prize.

He said he feels he should have won but was still happy with the recognition.

“I am a little bit disappointed. That was the opening goal of the World Cup in Africa, but I am not bitter.”

Tshabalala had the opportunity to mingle with Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Barca coach Pep Guardiola and Maicon.

“They actually came over to greet and congratulate me and I was humbled to realize that they still remember me.” Tshabalala said.

Siphiwe Tshabalala currently plays for Kaizer Chiefs, but will be open to a move to Europe.

“At the moment I’m still part of Kaizer Chiefs and I’d like to play my football in Europe, but I won’t rush it. If a good offer comes my way then I would definitely go for it with their blessing,” the South African winger said.

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Serbian Goran Stevanovic Will Be The New Coach For Ghana Black Stars

Serbian Goran Stevanovic
Nyarko Benso

The new coach for the Ghana Black Stars will be Serbian Goran Stevanovic. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) will make the official announcement by next week.

The Serbian is expected in Accra by next week to discuss his terms of the contract and salary.

On Wednesday, the GFA had announced that the new coach will be known within two weeks.

GFA board members met with sports ministry officials on Wednesday to discuss their plans of naming a new coach of the Black Stars.

The GFA, according to sources, told ministry officials that Stevanovic was the best coach they have agreed on after interviewing three coaches.

Other contestants were Portuguese Humberto Coelho and Ghanaian Herbert Addo.

A GFA official announcement is expected by next week.

The Black Stars have an international assignment next month and it is certain that the new coach will be named in time.

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South Africa Siphiwe Tshabalala Robbed at Gunpoint

Ed Aarons
Bafana Bafana midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala has become the latest high profile player to fall victim of South Africa’s notoriously high crime-rates.
The 26-year-old escaped unhurt as armed robbers stormed into his house and made off with cell-phones and wallets.
Tshabalala, who scored the opening goal of the 2010 World Cup, was held at gun point as the raid took place.
But it could have been a lot worse for the Kaizer Chiefs star, who told his club’s website that the intruders had recognised him.
“My manager had sent someone to my house to collect my portraits,” Tshabalala said.
“As the gentleman was coming through the door, a heavily armed man came in pointing guns at us. I was with my two cousins and my friend when this happened.
“When they realised that it was my house, they left after only taking phones and wallets,” he added.
Tshabalala has been out of action since last month after he picked up a hip injury against Sierra Leone in a qualifier for the 2012 African Nations Cup.
He was linked with moves to Europe after his World Cup exploits but stayed with Chiefs after signing a new deal.
The left-winger is not the first high-profile Bafana star to be hit by crime – Orlando Pirates international Benson Mhlongo was kidnapped by carjackers back in August and was also recently arrested for carrying an unlicensed firearm.
Meanwhile it has also emerged that the house of Ghanaian players Andre and Jordan Ayew was robbed while they where away for Marseille’s Champions League match in Slovakia.
An investigation has been launched in Marseille after their villa was broken into.
Police said the criminals stole hi-fi equipment, jewelry and expensive watches and also damaged household electrical goods.
The Ayew brothers where in Zilina during the robbery, which occurred Wednesday night with Marseille beating the Slovakian team 7-0.
Ed Aarons
BBC Sport, Johannesburg
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Ghana FA Rejects Government Request on Abedi Pele

Nyarko Benso
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has rejected a request by government to present Abedi Pele as a candidate for a Caf executive committee position.
The GFA has reported the latest development to football’s world governing body, Fifa and Caf.
The GFA chose its president Kwesi Nyantakyi three months ago to contest next year’s elections.
Nyantakyi filed his nomination papers and has been confirmed by Caf to contest the post.
But in a dramatic twist of events, the Ministry of Sports wrote to ask the GFA to name the ex-Ghana captain for the position.
But a stern reply from the GFA, signed by all the 22 members of its executive committee, told Sports Minister Akua Sena Dansua that her directive will not be carried out.
“The executive committee of the Ghana Football Association finds this latest twist as unfortunate and clearly confusing,” the statement signed by the general secretary of the Ghana FA Kofi Nsiah read.
“We write to inform you that the Executive Commitee of this FA is unable to act or take any further action on your request.”
Making its case on the independence of football associations from governmental interference, the GFA quoted Article 18 of the Caf statutes to buttress its point.
“The decision of the GFA is in pursuant of Caf statutes that state that names of candidates for membership of Caf and Fifa executive committees shall be submitted by the relevant national associations,” the statement added.
Under Fifa rules, national football associations must not be subject to government control.
Similar actions by the governments in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Kenya have resulted in bans from international football.
Ghana’s last executive committee member was the late Sam Okyere but it has been more than two decades since.
Abedi Pele lost in his bid to get on the committee in 2004 when he lost to the Nigerian Amos Adamu.
The latest directive is likely to increase growing tensions between the Youth and Sports Ministry and the GFA over what executives of the football association feel is undue interference from government in the way they run their affairs.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
BBC Sports
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