FIFA execs questioned on 2018/2022 World Cups as Blatter chairs crisis meeting

Swiss police are set to question 10 senior FIFA executives over the decision to award World Cups to Russia and Qatar as a corruption scandal engulfs football’s governing body. The Executive Committee members took part in the controversial vote for the 2018/2022 tournaments - which is under investigation by Swiss authorities. The probe is separate to allegations of a £96m bribery racket stretching back 24 years outlined by U.S. prosecutors, which saw seven senior FIFA officials arrested in an early morning raid on their five-star hotel in Zurich on Wednesday. The men due to be questioned today are: Michel D’Hooghe, Jacques Anouma, Mario Lefkaritis, Angel Maria Villar-Llona, Senes Erzik, Worawi Makudi, Issa Hayatou, Hany Abo Rida, Vitaly Mutko and Rafael Salguero.

President Blatter apologises for not being able to come today because of the turbulences you have heard about… he has to fulfil his duties as President managing the situation, which are probably more important.

Jiri Dvorak, special adviser to FIFA’s medical committee

The interviews were due to take place as FIFA President Sepp Blatter hosted a crisis meeting with football leaders in Zurich. U.S. authorities have said a total of nine FIFA executives and five sports media and promotions executives face charges over allegations they were part of “rampant and systemic and deep-rooted” corruption running through football. Blatter is scheduled to stand for re-election to a fifth term as FIFA President at the Congress on Friday. FIFA has said the vote will go ahead as planned, despite calls from UEFA and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius for the election to be postponed. On Thursday, Blatter was backed by Vladimir Putin, president of 2018 World Cup host nation Russia, who said the U.S. investigation was “a clear attempt to prevent” Mr Blatter’s re-election.

Let me be clear: such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game.

Sepp Blatter

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