Sepp Blatter in the Fifa crisis: How the re-election run – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Joseph Blatter is submerged. The FIFA President also avoided on the second day of the corruption scandal in the public arena, he said a speech off and made an appearance at the UEFA Congress in Zurich in medicine also. “For obvious reasons”, in the words of a spokesman laconically.

but is obviously really well that the patriarch who rules the world football since 1998, actually is no longer tenable. A political party or an international group Imagine, in the one day searched the headquarters and at the same time half the management team is arrested – all the man would probably prompt at the top draw and cede the consequences.

But at the FIFA nothing is normal. Last year, the World Association made more than two billion dollars in sales. A large part of the money distributed to the 79-year-old Blatter to the 209 national associations. Whether the officials let them build football pitches or plug in the money itself, was never questioned in size in the Fifa.

Blatter has set up a system in which his power seems almost untouchable. Even if the Swiss themselves may have never accepted bribes. He has created a world in which corruption could flourish and – at least until Wednesday – drew no consequences

The system of favors ensures Blatter’s power , Especially the small national associations from Asia, Africa and South America have no interest in that things will change and about the European football gets more influence. So the Asian Football AFC announced to hold despite the scandal to Blatter: “The AFC is disappointed and sad, but opposes any delay of presidential elections on 29 May.”

The protagonists of the Fifa Crisis

Jeffrey Webb

REUTERS

Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands is considered a confidant of Fifa boss Joseph Blatter. Now the Swiss will probably have to renounce him. Webb, also FIFA vice-president, is being targeted by the authorities. He is one of those who were taken away in the morning in Zurich

Eugenio Figueredo

dpa

go before the investigators also against Eugenio Figueredo. He is also among those arrested. The 83-year-old official from Uruguay is one of the most influential power brokers in America

José Maria Marin

REUTERS

José Maria Marin, also 83, still could in the previous year in the glory of football World Cup in Brazil sunbathe. He also had to follow the police to police headquarters. The Brazilian has grown up in the orbit of Ex-Fifa boss Joao Havelange. Havelange has long been excluded from the IOC for corruption

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Rafael Esquivel

REUTERS

Rafael Esquivel from Venezuela is the third South American to be affected by the arrests is. His accounts were frozen by Swiss authorities meanwhile.

Eduardo Li

REUTERS

Also Eduardo Li was arrested in the morning in Zurich at the Hotel Baur au Lac. Li is head of the Football Federation of Costa Rica.

Jack Warner

REUTERS

If corruption and Fifa is talk, actually, always fast the name of Jack Warner (photo). The former vice president of the World Association is considered godfather of corruption in world football. Whether he was also affected during the arrests, is open. For this was his attaché, Costas Takkas arrested

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Julio Rocha

REUTERS

It is well known, however, that Julio Rocha (l.), the former president the Association of Nicaragua, was discharged in the morning. Only at one bounces back from everything.

Joseph Blatter is, according to his spokesman” not involved “. As usual.

Layer that, say, the laying of the election, requests so far only the Uefa. Pull the Europeans on Thursday not more confederations on their side, the conference will take place as planned.

If this happens, Blatter is expected to be elected this Friday in his fifth term. As the election takes place, who is the challenger, and what else is still on the agenda? Answers to the key questions.

Who is the challenger?

Only rarely was Prince Ali bin Al Hussein draw attention to themselves during the election campaign , Once he succeeded, as he complained, in the Fifa rule a “culture of intimidation”. He responded that he did not even get in much of the world the chance to introduce themselves.

Hussein knew what he was getting at the candidacy. He commissioned specially consultants who should protect him from reputational attacks. How necessary it was, showed an illegal offer that the Jordanian public made on Tuesday: A man had promised him 47 votes and an insight into Blatter’s finances. Hussein said he had brought the case to show that Fifa but not reported, in order not to hinder the investigation.

 
 
 

DPA

Hussein (l.), Van Praag: The Dutch withdrew and now supports Prince Ali

The Prince is 39 years old and therefore half his age Blatter. He is the half brother of the Jordanian king and sits for four years on the Executive Committee, the governing body of FIFA. As Vice President of the Asian Confederation, he was instrumental in helping that the veil ban on female football players was lifted. In 2012 he authored a resolution that stipulated that women equal rights to football matches as men.

Why there is only one opposition candidate?

Originally there were five. But it had no chance from the outset two – Ex-Blatter advisor Jerome Champagne and ex-pro David Ginola whose candidacy was sponsored by the way, an Irish bookmaker. Both not even received the necessary support of five associations.

In order still remained three opponents. However, Michael van Praag, head of the Dutch Association, and ex-pro Luis Figo retired last week. Official reason: The Jordanian Hussein had the best chances against Blatter and should be strengthened.

In fact, the strategy of Blatter’s opponents seems more helpless. “The Europeans give a pathetic picture,” says one who well versed in the association policy. “To challenge Blatter seriously, Uefa chief Michel Platini would have to play themselves.” But who did not want. Hussein was only third choice, so the FIFA experts as a challenger. In four years on the Executive Committee of the Prince had noticed nothing except the headscarf initiative.

Why applies Hussein as a chance?

Blatter has gathered his troops. Five of the six continental federations have sworn his spreaders, only the Uefa missing in this list. The largest membership continental federation is the African Caf with 54 votes. Most organizations are dependent on the money of Fifa and likely almost unanimously vote for Blatter. The CAF President Issa Hayatou made already clear: “Dear Joe, Africa feels very comfortable with you – and stay with you.”

That has obviously after the events from Wednesday changed nothing. After SPIEGEL ONLINE information says the South African Association Safa, there is no alternative to Blatter, because this was the only Democrat in world football.

The heads of confederations of South America (ten associations), Oceania ( eleven), North and Central America (35) and Asia (46) insured Blatter their support. The national associations are not obliged to follow the proposals. In Asia, some Islamic countries could take the side of the Jordanian challenger. This is true but in return the same way: The European football (53 votes) is not solidly behind Hussein, Blatter can count on votes from Eastern Europe

For the challenger so it would be a decent result when the second round of voting. achieved.

How does the choice?

In the first round, a candidate needs two thirds of votes to be elected. Enter all 209 associations from their vote, would the 140 votes. In possible subsequent ballots a simple majority is sufficient (105). The election shall be by secret ballot, the delegates give off.

The arrests Wednesday are likely to affect the election result is not the way. Although the seven appointed officials should have been planned as a delegate, there are spare. The Rules of Procedure of the Fifa reads: “Should the voting delegates leave the Congress, the document referred to as number two on the list delegates will vote.” If this is also not on site, accepts the called number three delegates.

What is still on?

The Congress discusses and decides on a sports political conflict in the Middle East. Palestine has submitted an application to exclude Israel from the Fifa. Blatter wanted to clarify the conflict necessarily before Congress and had met it with the Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas. The attempt failed, however, Palestine is sticking to its demand.

At the end of the Executive Committee will decide on Saturday, then DFB president Niersbach, succeeding Theo Zwanziger, the number of World Cup starting places for 2018. All Confederations want a place more, what does not. However, both issues are likely to come into the background in view of the hustle and bustle to Blatter and corruption investigations.