By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
June 1 – England’s gamble to try to get FIFA Presidential election called off today failed as expected even though 16 other countries supported the move.
Football Association chairman David Bernstein’s decision to make a stand and try to stop Sepp Blatter being re-elected in the wake of the cloud of corruption enveloping FIFA was always likely to come up short.
But he was left red-faced as the motion failed by 172 votes to 17 with 17 abstentions as nation after nation denounced the FA.
In his eagerly awaited address to the FIFA Congress, Bernstein said he was intervening with a heavy heart.
“It gives me no pleasure to make this speech,” he told delegates.
“A lot of people have warned me I shouldn’t be making this speech but FIFA is a democratic organisation.
“We are faced with an unsatisfactory situation.
“We are subject to universal criticism from Governments, sponsors, media and the wider world.
“With this background the election has turned into one-horse race.
“In the view of the Football Association this should be avoided both for the sake of FIFA and the president itself.
“A coronation without an opponent provides a flawed mandate.
“I ask for a postponement to allow time for an additonal candidate or candidates to stand and compete in an open and fair election.
“Only by so doing so will the winner have proper credibiltiy over the next four years.”
England were due to abstain at the election later in the day and Bernstein had minimal applause as he left the podium before the FA was then taken to task by speaker after speaker.
Haiti was the first country to lambast Bernstein, followed by Congo, Benin, Cyprus and Fiji as, just like with their 2018 World Cup bid, England were left humiliated.
Calling off the election would send out the wrong message and create even more instability, claimed Yves Jean-Bart, the President of the Haitian FA.
“Mr Blatter has the experience necessary give FIFA and strength and energy that are necessary,” he said.
“Postponing for the sole reason that there is only one candidate is not acceptable.
“We must follow the agenda…and follow President Blatter to undertake the reforms that are necessary.”
Selemani Owari, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s FA, went even further as he referred to former FA chairman Lord Triesman’s claims in Parliament of impropriety by four FIFA members during England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid.
A report into the claims has failed to provide corroborating evidence of the claims, and Selemani said: “We are ill at ease with people who wield unfounded accusations – he who accuses must provide evidence.
“FIFA belongs to 208 national associations and not to one association, we must not seek solutions through the media or a Parliament in any third country.”
Bernstein, when he took over the FA, vowed to build bridges with FIFA but could now find himself increasingly alienated.
He will cetainly have been encouraged that 16 other countries supported England’s move and 17 abstained.
But the collective outpouring of disdain will do him no favours .
While those who took to the stand were mainly life-long Blatter supporters who rely on FIFA’s annual contributions, one intervention was particularly unexpected and hugely embarrassing for England.
Senior FIFA vice-president Julio Grondona, head of FIFA’s Finance Committee, started his review of the last year by describing as “lies” some of the corruption claims that have emanated from England.
“Would you please leave the FIFA family alone,” said Grondona.
“Say what you have to say without upsetting our family.”
Grondona questioned the four British Home Associations’ right to have a specially nominated rather than elected vice-president.
“It’s always one place where the insults come from, and the problems come from,” he said.
“We’ve been in this situation for so many years.
In an interview with a German news agency earlier, Grondona, who has been rumoured as being one of those who allegedly asked for sweeteners to vote for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid, admitted he had backed the Gulf state but only because supporting the United States “would [have been] like a vote for England.
“And that is not possible.”
In the interview, he described the English as “pirates” and said there was never a chance of him backing England for 2018.
“With the English bid I said: ‘Let us be brief.
“‘If you give back the Falkland Islands, which belong to us, you will get my vote.’
“They then became sad and left.”
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