English are out to "destroy FIFA" claims Blatter

By Andrew Warshaw

August 30 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has taken another swipe at the English as he prepares to outline plans to reform the world governing body in the light of recent bribery scandals.

In an interview with Brazilian newspaper Estado do Sao Paulo, Blatter again accuses the English of being “bad losers”, not just over the 2018 World Cup bid but over more than 30 years.

FIFA still have not forgiven Football Association chairman David Bernstein’s vain attempt to delay the presidential election in June when Blatter was the only candidate.

Bernstein was heavily criticised immediately afterwards by FIFA vice-presidents Julio Grondona from Argentina and Angel Maria Villar from Spain.

Now Blatter himself has got in on the act.

Asked about the spate of corruption that has plagued FIFA, Blatter admitted that some of his executives had “not behaved well” but added: “I would like to say the following:

“We have bad losers in FIFA… I ask that the press allows us the necessary time to apply the changes that will be proposed.

“On October 21 I will announce those proposals.”

Blatter was then asked whether his reforms would solve anything.

“This animosity comes from England,” he told the paper.

“Interesting is the timing of the accusations.

“It was just around the time when they failed to win host rights to the 2018 World Cup.

“Three weeks before the Presidential election these accusations emerged.

“Let me tell you the truth: All this has been an act of revenge for [England’s Sir Stanley Rous] having lost the FIFA Presidency in 1974·to [Brazil’s] Joao Havelange.

“Still, they cannot accept that they no longer control FIFA.

“Since they cannot regain the Presidency, they decided they would try to destroy it.”

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734936267labto1734936267ofdlr1734936267owedi1734936267sni@w1734936267ahsra1734936267w.wer1734936267dna1734936267