FIFA cleared the re-election of Sepp Blatter as FIFA president today.
"No investigation against Blatter is warranted," according to Petrus Damaseb, the ethics committee deputy chairman.
A full inquiry into Mohammed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner having made bribes to the Caribbean Football Union officials in exchange for their votes in the presidential elections will be conducted later till which time both executive members are suspended. Sepp Blatter has been cleared of wrongdoing because he advised against making these payments.
Quick impressions: This is all part of a rapid response seeking to elevate Blatter above the fog. He's been made out as an unwitting dupe dragged down by the calumny of others. This does nothing to absolve FIFA of corruption and the system of patronage enjoyed under Blatter.
FIFA fielded a kangaroo court for the benefit of the world to show they deeply care about the issue of corruption. But this really does nothing. It just punted on the question of Bin Hammam and Warner who once the fire and smoke dies down will be exonerated at a later stage. Blatter got away on a his word against mine technicality. The intention behind this exercise was made amply clear - as per Jerome Valcke, FIFA's general secretary the election will go ahead as planned for June 1st. At this point Blatter isn't even keeping up the pretense that there is anything genuine about these elections.
Separately there is the issue of Issa Hayatou and Jacques Anouma of the CAF allegedly receiving $1.5 million payments for their Qatar vote. The English FA also sent evidence backing Lord Triesman's allegations of bribery especially in regards to Jack Warner. Ricardo Texeiria and Worawi Makudi, the other two officials charged by Lord Triesman have been cleared by FIFA. No word on Nicholas Leoz, the Paraguayan FA chief also similarly accused of wrongdoing.
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