Obama demands more transparency and accountability from FIFA.
"We must recognize that, beyond being a game, football is a huge business, a source of national pride. People want to be sure that it is played with integrity," argued the US president, who is participating in the G7 summit in Germany.
Alex Rodrigues - Reporter for Agência Brasil
US President Barack Obama today (8) added to the list of world authorities recommending that the International Federation of Football (FIFA) take more transparency and accountability in the conduct of the sport. In Germany, where he is participating in the G7 leaders' meeting (group of the seven most industrialized countries in the world), Obama defended the importance of public oversight of football.
"We must consider that, beyond being a game, football is a huge business, a source of national pride. People want to be sure that it is played with integrity."
Obama emphasized the importance of the investigation by the New York Justice Department, with the support of the FBI, the United States Federal Police, and the Swiss government, which accuses sports officials and businessmen of accepting bribes in marketing contracts, broadcasting rights for games organized by FIFA, and allegedly in the selection of host countries for the World Cup.
According to Obama, with the improved performance of the US national team, soccer is gaining increasing popularity in the United States. "That's why we want the sport to be managed the right way," Obama stated.
The US president showed no concern about the criticism from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who two weeks ago accused the United States of trying to "impose its jurisdiction on other countries," remove the current FIFA president, Swiss national Joseph Blatter, from office, and interfere in the functioning of international organizations.
With the worldwide repercussions of the allegations, Blatter resigned from his position just five days after being elected for his fifth term. Blatter is expected to remain at the head of FIFA only until a new election takes place.
"I'll just say that, in conversations I've had in Europe, people think it's very important for FIFA to be able to operate with integrity, transparency, and financial accountability," Obama added.
On the 27th, Swiss police arrested seven sports officials in Zurich, including the former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), José Maria Marin. On the same day, an eighth suspect, former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, surrendered to authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, in Central America. He was released after paying bail of US$400.
Nine FIFA officials and five sports agents of various nationalities – including the seven arrested – have been indicted in the United States. US authorities are also investigating evidence of fraud in the selection of the host countries for the next two World Cups (Russia, 2018, and Qatar, 2022).
According to the New York Attorney General's office and the FBI, the scheme may have moved more than US$150 million over two decades.