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David Cameron backs demands for Sepp Blatter to quit David Cameron backs demands for Sepp Blatter to quit
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron has thrown his weight behind calls for the president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, to resign, after a string of the organisation’s officials were arrested on corruption charges and criminal proceedings were opened over its awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.David Cameron has thrown his weight behind calls for the president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, to resign, after a string of the organisation’s officials were arrested on corruption charges and criminal proceedings were opened over its awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
A spokesman for the prime minister said Cameron “associated himself fully” with comments made by John Whittingdale, the culture, media and sport secretary, in parliament on Thursday morning.A spokesman for the prime minister said Cameron “associated himself fully” with comments made by John Whittingdale, the culture, media and sport secretary, in parliament on Thursday morning.
Whittingdale suggested Blatter, who has headed the international football governing body since 1998, should quit as the “deeply flawed and corrupt organisation” needed a change of leadership.Whittingdale suggested Blatter, who has headed the international football governing body since 1998, should quit as the “deeply flawed and corrupt organisation” needed a change of leadership.
Nine senior Fifa officials, as well as five sports media and promotions executives, were charged by US prosecutors on Wednesday over bribes totalling more than $150m (£100m) over 24 years. It followed the arrest of senior officials at a Zurich hotel and the announcement of a separate Swiss investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. Nine senior Fifa officials, as well as five sports media and promotions executives, were charged by US prosecutors on Wednesday over alleged bribes totalling more than $150m (£100m) over 24 years. It followed the arrest of senior officials at a Zurich hotel and the announcement of a separate Swiss investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.
“We are squarely behind the FA,” said the prime minister’s spokesman, referring to the English Football Association. “The FA, as John Whittingdale said in his statement, supports the candidacy of Prince Ali [bin al-Hussein], and we are foursquare behind that.”“We are squarely behind the FA,” said the prime minister’s spokesman, referring to the English Football Association. “The FA, as John Whittingdale said in his statement, supports the candidacy of Prince Ali [bin al-Hussein], and we are foursquare behind that.”
Blatter is seeking a fifth four-year term as Fifa’s president, standing against the Jordanian prince in a leadership vote on Friday. Blatter has not been named as a suspect, but he faces questioning in the Swiss investigation.Blatter is seeking a fifth four-year term as Fifa’s president, standing against the Jordanian prince in a leadership vote on Friday. Blatter has not been named as a suspect, but he faces questioning in the Swiss investigation.
Whittingdale told parliament that the UK government would write to other European sports ministers, setting out its concerns and seeking their support. The UK will make information available to US prosecutors and examine the allegations to see whether British laws had been broken, he added.Whittingdale told parliament that the UK government would write to other European sports ministers, setting out its concerns and seeking their support. The UK will make information available to US prosecutors and examine the allegations to see whether British laws had been broken, he added.
The prime minister’s spokesman was asked whether Cameron thought the next World Cup should take place in Russia. “I understand that many England fans were disappointed that England’s bid hadn’t been successful,” he said. “You know that the prime minister was one of them. He was out there along with others of course trying to get a successful England bid at that time.”The prime minister’s spokesman was asked whether Cameron thought the next World Cup should take place in Russia. “I understand that many England fans were disappointed that England’s bid hadn’t been successful,” he said. “You know that the prime minister was one of them. He was out there along with others of course trying to get a successful England bid at that time.”
Cameron has previously said he thought the result of the 2018 World Cup bidding process was “sorted” in advance, with England’s bid team misled by Fifa executives who pledged support then voted for rivals. The prime minister told the Sun he had been left frustrated by the experience in 2010, which he had previously described as “murky”.Cameron has previously said he thought the result of the 2018 World Cup bidding process was “sorted” in advance, with England’s bid team misled by Fifa executives who pledged support then voted for rivals. The prime minister told the Sun he had been left frustrated by the experience in 2010, which he had previously described as “murky”.
Challenged by the paper to say the process was corrupt, Cameron said: “It was a mad 24 hours of intensive lobbying which David Beckham and Prince William and I were doing together. We thought we were making progress. I think the whole thing was, you choose your words carefully, I would say ‘sorted’ before we went into it. All I can tell you is there are a lot of people who promised they were going to vote for me. And in the end, I think we got one vote.”Challenged by the paper to say the process was corrupt, Cameron said: “It was a mad 24 hours of intensive lobbying which David Beckham and Prince William and I were doing together. We thought we were making progress. I think the whole thing was, you choose your words carefully, I would say ‘sorted’ before we went into it. All I can tell you is there are a lot of people who promised they were going to vote for me. And in the end, I think we got one vote.”