Fifa in crisis live: FA calls for Fifa elections to be postponed
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Fifa must postpone election, says FA chairman
Matt Scott: 'Blatter: Crisis? What Is a Crisis?'
11.12am More from Matt Scott in Zurich:
Fifa has refused to respond to the FA's call for Sepp Blatter to postpone Wednesday's elections beyond pointing out the process. Fully 75% of all national associations (that is 154 of the 205 who have a vote at Wednesday's congress) calling for a change to the agenda. Naturally Fifa do not believe this will happen.
11.05am Emirates has joined Adidas and Coca Cola in criticising the recent goings-on at Fifa, although its choice of verb - 'disappointment' - and the gruel-like blandness of its statement suggests that the organisation is not going to be first charging the barricades of Fifa HQ. Anyway, here's their statement:
Emirates, like all football fans around the world, is disappointed with the issues that are currently surrounding the administration of the sport. We hope that these issues will be resolved as soon as possible and the outcome will be in the interest of the game and sport in general.
10.50am: Looking below the line, avidfan writes:
Can someone tell me what happened with the sworn testimony in the Sunday Times from some FIFA whistleblower??? I saw Sepp's press conference yesterday and he suggested that no such person existed?!
Think I'm right in saying that the Sunday Times' whistleblower was advised by his/her lawyers not to attend Fifa's ethics committee hearing. However, most of the UK reporters in Zurich are going to press conference this afternoon from someone promising further whistleblowing revelations. We'll see w! hat that throws up ...
10.42am More reaction from Matt Scott: "The Football Association has taken the initiative by calling for the immediate postponement of Sepp Blatter's coronation as president," he writes. "It is an incendiary move that will incense Blatter, who thought he would serenely assume the role for his fourth term after the challenger, Mohamed Bin Hammam, was suspended amid renewed corruption allegations at the heart of Fifa."
The question now is, is the FA a lone voice, whistling in the corridors of Zurich? Or is the organisation reflecting a wider view among the individual associations?
10.32am Here's Matt Scott in Zurich's reaction to the FA's statement:
Naturally this will be a futile measure from #theFA but is bold. Bravo chairman David Bernstein for having courage to confront @seppblatter
Of course, as Paul Kelso on Twitter notes, Bernstein is part of "the same FA facing a Parliamentary review of its own corporate governance...". Still, at least the FA is taking a lead for a change ....
10.25am The FA has released a statement calling for the Fifa presidential election to be postponed - and called for a 'genuinely independent' external party to look into how to improve Fifa. Here's the full statement:
The Football Association Chairman David Bernstein said: "On 19 May 2011 The Football Association announced it would be abstaining in the forthcoming election for the Fifa Presidency.
"There were two main reasons for this decision. First, a concern, that a series of allegations relating to Fifa ExCo Members made it difficult to support either candidate. Secondly, a concern about the lack of transparency and accountability within the organisation, contributing to the current unsatisfactory situation.
"Events of the last few days have reinforced our views, and we call on FIFA and ask other! nationa l associations to support us with two initiatives. First, to postpone the election and give credibility to this process, so any alternative reforming candidate could have the opportunity to stand for President. Secondly, to appoint a genuinely independent external party to make recommendations regarding improved governance and compliance procedures and structures throughout the Fifa decision making processes for consideration by the full membership.
"This has been a very damaging time for the reputation of Fifa and therefore the whole of football. To improve confidence in the way the game is governed at the very top, we believe these requests would be a positive step forward and the minimum that should take place."
Good morning and welcome to day three of our Fifa in crisis live blog. Over the next 10 hours or so we will bring you the latest news and reaction ahead of tomorrow's Fifa presidential election, with our reporters David Conn and Matt Scott scurrying around the corridors of Fifa HQ in Zurich to assess the fallout from Sepp Blatter's extraordinary press conference yesterday. Yes, the "Crisis? What is a Crisis? one. There's plenty else to go at, of course, including:
Will Jack Warner add to his so-called "tsunami" of claims?"
Will any other Football Associations join the English FA's lead and abstain from backing Blatter?
Coca Cola and Adidas have already expressed their disquiet at the shabby revelations of the past few days; will the other Fifa partners (Hyundai, Emirates, Sony and Visa follow suit?
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