ACTUALITE |
28.05.2002
Blatter stops critics speaking at FIFA congress
SEOUL
A special FIFA congress on the finances of football`s world governing body ended in uproar Tuesday when its president Sepp Blatter refused to let opponents of his leadership voice their concerns.
Blatter, who faces a re-election vote on Wednesday, only called supporters of his version of FIFA`s accounts to speak on FIFA finances, which his rivals say are in a critical state. No vote was taken during the congress.
"It was absolutely scandalous," Issa Hiyatou, the head of the African Football Confederation, who is standing against Blatter for the presidency, said as he stormed out of the conference room.
FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen said "FIFA is not working any more. In the 16 years I have been at FIFA I have never seen anything like this. We will have to rebuild FIFA. We will have to start at the bottom."
Blatter has been accused by top FIFA officials of corruption and mismanagement. They have started legal action in Switzerland where the world body is based.
The FIFA president has insisted that the finances are sound.
But Blatter refused about 15 delegates permission to speak at the meeting.
English FA chief executive Adam Crozier, who had wanted to quiz members of the FIFA finance committee, said: "It was absolutely disgraceful what happened there."
David Will, a Scottish vice president of FIFA, and head of an internal investigation into the finances, said he was also stopped from speaking to the 202 delegates at the special congress.
Will said he had asked Blatter during a break if he could address the meeting but Blatter refused.
"I am very angry. Money is just flying out of FIFA every way. Everything is not sweetness and light with the FIFA finances. There is a very serious fianncial crisis.
"By not letting me speak and raise my queries the congress has not been able to get the true picture of what is happening. I fear the finances are all being clouded by the election," said Will.
Blatter announced before the meeting that no vote would be taken as many national associations had said it would be unconstitutional.
Italian Football Federation president Franco Carraro proposed an independent audit committee appointed by congress. But Blatter critics said this was a bid by the FIFA leader to undermine the inquiry by Will`s committee that Blatter has already suspended once.
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