ZURICH, May 31 (Reuters) - FIFA’s annual congress is usually a tame affair where president Sepp Blatter delivers a speech on how well FIFA are doing and delegates approve mundane reports.
Not so this year. Even senior FIFA officials do not know how delegates will react to the corruption allegations facing world soccer’s governing body or whether the unopposed election of Blatter as president for a fourth term will actually take place.
Q - What is the Congress and what is likely to happen?
A - The Congress comprises all 208 member nations of FIFA and is held annually to vote on resolutions and proposals and, once every four years, to vote for a president.
This year 205 of the 208 members have voting rights and the key issue they have to decide is whether to go ahead with the presidential election, even though only Blatter is the only candidate.
Q - If Blatter is the only candidate, why is there any doubt about him being re-elected ?
A - Blatter, who has been president since 1998, was due to face a challenge from Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar. However, Bin Hammam pulled out of the race on Sunday and was subsequently banned until at least July by the Ethics Committee from all soccer-related activity relating to alleged bribery charges.
Jack Warner from Trinidad & Tobago, another FIFA vice-president, was also banned as part of the same investigation. Some delegates, including those from England, believe the election of Blatter should be postponed, pending a full investigation into FIFA’s affairs.
Q - Is that likely to happen?
A - For the re-election of Blatter to be postponed, 75 per cent of the eligible voting delegates would have to back a proposal. However, most delegates support Blatter, despite FIFA’s troubles
Q - What other key issues is FIFA facing at the Congress?
A - There are no other major issues on the agenda, but FIFA has serious concerns in the months ahead, one concerning the 2022 World Cup finals which were awarded to Qatar last December.
Qatar is small, has no soccer heritage and there are concerns over the summer heat of around 50 degrees Celsius when matches will be played, albeit in air-conditioned stadiums.
FIFA’s secretary general Jerome Valcke, in an email to Warner, claimed Qatar had “bought” the World Cup, but then said he did not mean they had bought it by paying for votes, but because of the financial strength of their economy. However, his remarks have sparked an angry response from Qatar and re-ignited the debate about Qatar’s ability to stage the finals in 11 years time.
Q - Doesn’t that remark compromise Valcke’s position?
A - Valcke defended his remarks on Monday, but it is not the first time he has been in trouble at FIFA, losing his job as marketing director in 2007 after his involvement in a botched sponsorship deal. He returned to FIFA eight months later as secretary general and was credited with doing a fine job in making the World Cup in South Africa a success.
Blatter, as president, is the only person empowered to remove Valcke from his position, so despite his indiscretion, he is unlikely to go.
Q - Will Congress debate the futures of Warner and Bin Hammam following their suspensions ?
A - No. Warner and Bin Hammam have been two of the most important FIFA officials for many years. Both are on the executive committee, while Warner is a FIFA vice-president and president of the CONCACAF confederation covering north and central American countries and the Caribbean. Bin Hammam is the president of the Asian Confederation.
The fates of both men will be decided in July when the ethics committee meets.
Q - What does the future hold for FIFA?
A - Even Blatter has said FIFA needs to reform. But while the 75-year-old Swiss, who said on Monday FIFA was not in a crisis but just facing some little difficulties, remains in charge it is debatable how much change will be effected before he retires as president, if re-elected, in 2015.
Not so this year. Even senior FIFA officials do not know how delegates will react to the corruption allegations facing world soccer’s governing body or whether the unopposed election of Blatter as president for a fourth term will actually take place.
Q - What is the Congress and what is likely to happen?
A - The Congress comprises all 208 member nations of FIFA and is held annually to vote on resolutions and proposals and, once every four years, to vote for a president.
This year 205 of the 208 members have voting rights and the key issue they have to decide is whether to go ahead with the presidential election, even though only Blatter is the only candidate.
Q - If Blatter is the only candidate, why is there any doubt about him being re-elected ?
A - Blatter, who has been president since 1998, was due to face a challenge from Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar. However, Bin Hammam pulled out of the race on Sunday and was subsequently banned until at least July by the Ethics Committee from all soccer-related activity relating to alleged bribery charges.
Jack Warner from Trinidad & Tobago, another FIFA vice-president, was also banned as part of the same investigation. Some delegates, including those from England, believe the election of Blatter should be postponed, pending a full investigation into FIFA’s affairs.
Q - Is that likely to happen?
A - For the re-election of Blatter to be postponed, 75 per cent of the eligible voting delegates would have to back a proposal. However, most delegates support Blatter, despite FIFA’s troubles
Q - What other key issues is FIFA facing at the Congress?
A - There are no other major issues on the agenda, but FIFA has serious concerns in the months ahead, one concerning the 2022 World Cup finals which were awarded to Qatar last December.
Qatar is small, has no soccer heritage and there are concerns over the summer heat of around 50 degrees Celsius when matches will be played, albeit in air-conditioned stadiums.
FIFA’s secretary general Jerome Valcke, in an email to Warner, claimed Qatar had “bought” the World Cup, but then said he did not mean they had bought it by paying for votes, but because of the financial strength of their economy. However, his remarks have sparked an angry response from Qatar and re-ignited the debate about Qatar’s ability to stage the finals in 11 years time.
Q - Doesn’t that remark compromise Valcke’s position?
A - Valcke defended his remarks on Monday, but it is not the first time he has been in trouble at FIFA, losing his job as marketing director in 2007 after his involvement in a botched sponsorship deal. He returned to FIFA eight months later as secretary general and was credited with doing a fine job in making the World Cup in South Africa a success.
Blatter, as president, is the only person empowered to remove Valcke from his position, so despite his indiscretion, he is unlikely to go.
Q - Will Congress debate the futures of Warner and Bin Hammam following their suspensions ?
A - No. Warner and Bin Hammam have been two of the most important FIFA officials for many years. Both are on the executive committee, while Warner is a FIFA vice-president and president of the CONCACAF confederation covering north and central American countries and the Caribbean. Bin Hammam is the president of the Asian Confederation.
The fates of both men will be decided in July when the ethics committee meets.
Q - What does the future hold for FIFA?
A - Even Blatter has said FIFA needs to reform. But while the 75-year-old Swiss, who said on Monday FIFA was not in a crisis but just facing some little difficulties, remains in charge it is debatable how much change will be effected before he retires as president, if re-elected, in 2015.
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