Blatter takes to social media to pledge FIFA reforms amid further scandal

Outgoing FIFA President Sepp Blatter has taken to social media to prove he is 'working hard' to clean up the sport's governing body, just days after announcing his resignation.

Blatter has vowed to clean up FIFA before he steps down

Blatter has vowed to clean up FIFA before he steps down Source: Reuters

Blatter, who announced his pending resignation as the FIFA corruption crisis continues, tweeted a photo of himself sitting in a leather chair with a light blue jacket and no tie.

"Working hard on reforms after meeting Audit & Compliance Committee Independent Chairman (Domenico) Scala," Blatter wrote.
Those following Blatter online weren't convinced, with many expressing their anger and frustration over ongoing scandals at FIFA.
Blatter says he met with Mr Scala "to establish a framework for action and a timetable" for his final months in office.

He made no mention of his status as a target of a US criminal investigation into FIFA over claims of corruption and bribery relating to the bidding process for the 1998 and 2010 World Cups.

Instead, he kept the short statement focused on reforming an organisation he has presided over for 17 years.

In his resignation speech on Tuesday, Blatter promised a final round of modernising reforms before leaving office. That includes finding a date for a presidential election by next March.

He also pledged to introduce term limits for his successor and FIFA executive committee members, and tougher integrity checks for election candidates.

It comes amid claims today that FIFA made a multimillion dollar payment to the Irish Football Association to avoid a legal case over a controversial World Cup playoff defeat in 2009.

Ireland was knocked out by France in the two-legged playoff to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after a ball-handling incident by France striker Thierry Henry.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) says FIFA paid it to drop plans for a legal case over the result.

But FIFA says the agreement pertained to a $5 million loan it had provided the FAI to build a new stadium in Ireland.

FIFA says the money was to be reimbursed if Ireland qualified for the 2014 World Cup. It did not qualify, and so the loan was written off, according to FIFA.

 


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