African soccer chief Issa Hayatou launched a fierce attack on FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Monday, accusing him of « illegal practices » ahead of the election for the FIFA presidency in Seoul on May 29.
« The image of FIFA is becoming very negative, due to the lack of leadership and illegal practices committed by its president, » Hayatou said in a statement handed to journalists in Tokyo.
Hayatou, head of the African Football Confederation (AFC), is the only candidate running against Blatter, whose bid for a second four-year term has been undermined by allegations of corruption by FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen.
« Even if it were not a period of campaigning for the elections, it would still by my duty to … voice my condemnation against the reprehensible acts of the head of FIFA, » said Hayatou.
Zen-Ruffinen accused Blatter of systematically mismanaging FIFA by deception, illegal payments and cronyism since becoming president in 1998 in an explosive report presented to the FIFA executive committee earlier this month.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Subsequently, 11 members of the 24-man executive committee, including UEFA chairman Lennart Johansson, announced on Friday that legal proceedings had been started in the Swiss courts against Blatter for alleged misuse of funds.
The 21-page dossier presented by Zen-Ruffinen alleged that FIFA had run up debts of as much as 800 million Swiss francs ($500 million) under Blatter.
The 66-year-old Swiss official denies the allegations and maintains that he is the target of a smear campaign by supporters of his election rival from Cameroon.
But Hayatou on Monday accused Blatter of « abusing (the) legitimacy » of FIFA as the war of words escalated just over two weeks before the start of the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
« If Blatter is re-elected, the financial damage and the damage to the credibility of FIFA will continue, » said Hayatou, who promised to bring order to soccer’s ruling body.
« I believe I can beat Blatter in the election and if I am elected, FIFA will become a transparent and accountable organisation. »
Flanked by influential South Korean soccer chief Chung Mong-joon, also a FIFA vice-president, Hayatou said he was confident of receiving more votes from Europe and Africa than Blatter in the May 29 election.
« It is difficult to say with precision what will happen but I have more support in Europe and Africa. Mr. Blatter will be ahead in South America and Central America, » he said.
To win the election, Hayatou would need a large majority of the 52 African associations and at least half of the European and Asian votes.
ASIAN SWEETENER
As a sweetener for Asia, Hayatou is advocating more World Cup places should go to Asian countries and wants to reduce the number of South American slots.
« Look at South America. Five out of 10 South American teams qualified for the World Cup, » he said. « Only Brazil and Argentina always qualify. The other eight are more or less the same level as the teams in Asia, so I ask you is that fair? »
Hayatou said he doubted the election would be postponed because of the current row, as suggested by Johansson in Geneva at the weekend.
« I think the election will go ahead as scheduled unless the court case suddenly has an influence. I am prepared for May 29, » said Hayatou, who is set to visit 12 Asian countries to drum up support before the election.
(C) Reuters Limited 2002.
