ZURICH, (Reuters) – FIFA President Sepp Blatter yesterday announced a reform taskforce to try to leave the troubled body in better shape when he finally stands down after a new leader of world football is elected in February.
Blatter, 79, tried to look ahead at executive meeting that set the date for the election as Feb. 26 and sketched out the reforms – but the corruption scandal that erupted in May once again overshadowed plans that critics blasted as insufficient.
As he sat down to begin a news conference at FIFA’s Zurich headquarters, Blatter, head of the body since 1998, was showered with fake dollar bills by a suited prankster.
Clearly shaken, Blatter left the room while staff cleared up the paper from the floor.
British media identified the protester, who was taken away by police, as comedian Lee Nelson, real name Simon Brodkin, who has been involved in similar pranks and posted a picture of the incident on the Twitter feed of one of his alter egos.
World soccer bosses will be hoping the organisation can draw a line under the past months with the election of a new leader.
While Blatter himself has not been charged with any wrongdoing, his vice president, Jeffrey Webb, appeared in a U.S. court on Saturday and pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.
The 50-year-old Cayman Islands national is among nine soccer officials and five marketing executives charged by the U.S. Justice Department with allegedly exploiting the sport for their own gain through bribes of more than $150 million over 24 years.
Blatter said his decision to quit in June, despite having won a fifth-term four days earlier, was to help FIFA while it was under attack.
“There was pressure coming from different groups, attacking FIFA. I had to do something for FIFA, not for me. My mission now is to defend the institution (of) FIFA. I can defend myself. I don’t need help. But FIFA (does),” Blatter said.
