Alert for the all-powerful: while we almost never run into a wall, we often slip on banana peels. The story of Sepp Blatter’s election-resignation from the FIFA presidency could go down in the history of variety shows if it weren’t such a serious and grave matter.
One of the most astute and significant leaders in global sports fell from his pedestal without even realizing what was happening. Yet, the warning signs were evident and should not have escaped someone with one of the finest networks of international connections.
Not knowing that his former American associate, Chuck Blazer*, was grappling with the American justice system and its investigative procedures is a forgivable offense for an inexperienced leader, but unacceptable for someone who has been in the business for 40 years and knows the people within the system while being aware of how things operate.
When Swiss police arrest seven of its leaders on the eve of the FIFA General Assembly, and during the press conference held by the United States, requests for the extradition of suspected culprits are made, featuring the presence of the Attorney General, the FBI director, and the head of the federal tax administration, one should understand that the die is cast, and the tactic of “it wasn’t me” is no longer useful.
How could he not know the codes of how American justice functions?
How could he forget that FBI investigations led President Nixon to resign (Watergate scandal) and that one of the most important mob bosses in America in the ’20s and ’30s, Al Capone, ended his career not because of the myriad crimes committed but due to a tax evasion charge?
The message was therefore clear, and Sepp Blatter should have interpreted it as such: the end of the race.
But given his deafness, it’s no coincidence that three days later, an email shedding light on the responsibility of FIFA’s Secretary General Jérôme Valcke (who prudently did not travel as planned to the Women’s World Championship in Canada) in an illegal fund transfer obliges Sepp Blatter to announce his resignation.
A record: elected on Friday and resigned the following Tuesday!
We await what comes next, including the investigation into the activities of the sports marketing and television rights company Infront, whose president is Sepp Blatter’s nephew, Philippe.
Infront is a major player in the sports business and co-shareholder with Aspire Sport (a company of the Al-Thani family, the emir of that state) for the management of marketing and commercial rights for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Finally, the “series” is just beginning, and there is no doubt that the upcoming episodes will be even spicier.
