Fifa president – Blatter had the Order of Merit not really … – Süddeutsche.de

• Sepp Blatter, who is currently locked president of world football body FIFA, has received his Order of Merit at the end of the 2006 World Cup under questionable circumstances
• For Blatter had pushed forward to get the cross. – that contradicts the religious rules.

the Nobel Peace Prize has not it worked for Sepp Blatter. The now suspended chief of the football world governing body FIFA had gladly accepted this honor, he would have also deserved, in his view. Blatter views the football even as global peace movement, himself he has already asked the Pope on the same level. Perhaps it has received the Nobel Prize and therefore does not work, because the proposal came from the wrong side. From the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The least meant it.

As it is better to bring up for itself into play. In this way, Blatter has also come to his Merit. This emerges from acts of the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. Has received the Fifa boss the Order at the end of the 2006 World Cup in Germany; . “social commitment” of his association and because he for insets “fair play beyond the playing field”

What was the hitherto unknown: could Strictly controversial for many years Fifa president the Order of Merit even may not get. Blatter has namely, as stated in a note from the Federal Chancellery, vehemently urged to get the medal. FIFA boss “expects” that he received this award, the Federal Chancellery noted on May 17, 2005. This can be reconciled with the provisions of the Federal President in accordance hard. “Whoever stimulates its own award, can not expect a ceremony of the Order of Merit by the Order rules”, it says.

SZ graphics ; Source: Note Federal Chancellery

Blatter insisted on the award

Blatter has loudly documents before even done far more than his award only encourage , He insisted it downright. The reason for this request was the fact that he had been honored in early 2005, the then President of the European Football Union UEFA, Lennart Johansson with the Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic. Johansson had campaigned for clean conditions in world football, he was the greatest opponent of Blatter, whose Fifa had already at that time entwined with constant accusations of corruption

A Medal for Johansson, but not for Blatter -. Annoyed that needs the President have. When in May 2005 in Berlin a visit by Urs Linsi decency, the General Secretary of FIFA, listed the sports department of the Federal Chancellery, on which topics one must be set

One of the expected discussion points:. “Awarding an order to Mr. Blatter “. Johansson got a high decoration, “Mr Blatter expects a similar award from the Federal Republic of Germany,” noted the Chancellor’s Office, adding that first contacts with the Ministry of the Interior, it therefore should already give. As Linsi auditioned on 19 May 2005 in preparation for the 2006 World Cup in the Chancellery, he came to speak to Blatter’s Medal actually need. In a note of the Chancellery of the meeting is: “Order of the Federal Republic of Germany for the FIFA President: Note from Mr Linsi”. And further: The Chancellery had promised, “that such an initiative would come from the federal government”

“Our whole country owes Joseph Blatter much.”

Four months later, on. September 20, 2005, suggested Interior Minister Otto Schily ago in a letter to German President Horst Köhler to leave Blatter for his services to football the get “Bundesverdienstkreuz an upscale level”. Schily praised Blatter for the “development aid” in poorer countries, for alleged reforms in the Fifa and for many other things, including its commitment to the World Cup in Germany. “Our whole country owes Joseph Blatter very much.” Blatter’s contribution to the World Cup had, however, mainly consisted in obtaining for work of FIFA during the German tax authorities a degree of tax exemption. That’s what the Fifa, which benefited from the World Cup anyway vigorously, brought probably many millions of euros in addition.

That leaves the Bundesverdienstkreuz wanted unconditional and urged on the Fifa vehemently on this order, which has the Federal President according to their own Information only last week experienced by a request from the Süddeutsche Zeitung . “The Federal President was a possible self-excitation anything previously known,” said the official. Such a self-excitation prevents but “not in any event, a ceremony” and point in particular is no reason to withdraw a medal retrospectively. To deprive someone an award, must usually have a final conviction may be released to a prison sentence, in particular because of a “dishonorable offense”.

Against Blatter is determined in Switzerland, but the end of the process remains to be seen. Until then, the presumption of innocence applies, even in religious matters. His Merit may Blatter So once retained, perhaps forever.