FIFA asked to delay election

ZURICH (AP):

The turmoil surrounding FIFA escalated yesterday with calls for the presidential election to be postponed and top global sponsors wary that the corruption scandal is damaging soccer.

Soccer's governing body is "shaking on its foundations", FIFA president Sepp Blatter said at yesterday's opening of a congress that is expected to elect him to another four-year term today.

With Blatter the only candidate after Qatar's Mohamed bin Hammam withdrew from the race on Sunday amid bribery allegations, the English and Scottish Football Associations said the election lacked the credibility to counter the flood of allegations rocking FIFA.

That was unlikely to affect Blatter's coronation to a fourth term, although he did acknowledge the toll of the scandals.

"I thought we were in a world of fair play, respect and discipline and, unfortunately, I have to say it no longer is the case," Blatter said at the ceremonial opening of FIFA's congress. "There is danger."

similar challenges

IOC President Jacques Rogge said the Olympics faced similar challenges a dozen years ago leading to the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, forcing drastic reform. Ten IOC members resigned or were expelled for accepting improper inducements.

"The IOC ultimately, however, emerged a stronger organisation, and from within," Rogge said. "I am sure that FIFA also can emerge stronger."

On the eve of the election, Blatter also had to deal with two more leading sponsors criticising FIFA's inability to deal with pervasive corruption claims, and with his second-in-command (Jerome Valcke, secretary general) under fire for saying Qatar had 'bought' the 2022 World Cup.

The English FA called for more time to allow "any alternative reforming candidate" to come forward to challenge Blatter, who has been president for 13 years and is seeking a final four-year term.

England's intervention took European soccer body UEFA by surprise, with President Michel Platini saying the FA did not bring it up at a meeting on Monday.

"They did not ask" for support to postpone the election, Platini said.

strong backing

UEFA is expected to largely back Blatter in today's election.

Any postponement of today's election would need the backing of three-quarters of the 208 federations attending the Congress, which was scheduled to be opened by Blatter late yesterday.

The English FA had already said it was abstaining before the allegations emerged that led to suspensions for bin Hammam and fellow FIFA executive committee member Austin 'Jack' Warner.

The two were suspended by an ethics committee pending a full probe into allegations that Caribbean soccer leaders were paid US$40,000 each to back bin Hammam's presidential bid.

"The events of the last two days, in particular, have made any election unworkable," Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan said in a statement. "The integrity and reputation of the game across the world is paramount and the Scottish FA urges FIFA to reconsider its intentions, and calls on other member associations to consider the long-term implications for the game's image."

Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, and Visa became the latest FIFA sponsors to express concern about the scandal, joining fellow World Cup sponsors Coca-Cola and Adidas.