The FIFA corruption scandal is “the world cup of fraud” say those prosecuting the embattled soccer organization this month, and that cup runneth over now as calls for the top man to immediately resign are answered “nay.”
Longtime FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who critics claim is the source of all the agency’s corrupt dealings and present woes -- and who has yet to be arrested himself -- has flat out refused to step down ahead of pending elections.
Blatter’s a shoe-in to win (again) but he’s barely holding his own in the midst of charges that he and his club’s elite cabal lined their pockets with tens of millions of dollars of both venue and sponsorship bribes.
His opponents also warn that he’s continuing to use “undue influence” to remain the head of FIFA and that, if he’s indeed reelected this Friday, then emergency efforts will be employed to depose their “despot” leader.
The United States led the charge in busting 14 of FIFA’s high-ranking officers this week, allegedly as they were assembling at a posh hotel in Switzerland for more of their “endemic” dirty dealing.
For those activities, the disgraced officials have all been charged with racketeering, criminal fraud and money laundering, offenses which have seen major sports sponsors suddenly withdrawing their lucrative backing.
That international investigation is still ongoing, and with Sepp Blatter clearly the high-value target in prosecutors’ crosshairs, it makes sense to stop the bloodletting by stepping down, before the embroiled organization completely implodes.
But soccer's stubborn emperor says no way, at least not before all the ballots are counted.
