Small Countries Are To Blame For Blatter Re-election’

A leading official in European football has slammed a “rotten system” and has hinted that
a breakaway competition for major nations could be formed
KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Union) CEO
Bert van Oostveen says football’s
“smaller nations” should form their own
organisation after slamming their
influence on the re-election of Sepp
Blatter as Fifa president.
The 79-year-old beat challenger Prince
Ali of Jordan on Friday, meaning he will
be serve for a fifth term, despite a host
of leading Uefa nations voting against
the incumbent.
Fifa’s voting system means each
nation carries the same weight,
regardless of a country’s standing within
the game.
As a result, Blatter retained his
presidency thanks to the backing of
multiple smaller countries.
Van Oostveen said: “This can’t go on.
With all the respect to everyone that’s
here today: it is always the small
countries that create the majority. But it
is countries like France, Germany,
England, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands –
and a lot more – that are making the
global football big.
“They should have to take a blank sheet
and create a new Fifa organisation with
each other. I know that outside
Europe, in America, Canada, Australia
and a few countries in Asia, people think
like this.
“There are no concrete plans. The only
thing I can say is that this can’t go on.
This system is rotten. We have to
continue our protest.”
Van Oostveen did not dismiss the idea
of pulling out of the 2018 World Cup in
Russia and even hinted breakaway
nations could form a brand new
tournament.
“A boycott of the World Cup in Russia? I
don’t exclude anything at this moment.
But it only has an impact when you take
action as a collective. Then you will
make a serious statement.
“A separate tournament away from the
World Cup is an extremely interesting
thought.”
Blatter has been urged to step down by
Uefa president Michel Platini and
Portugal legend Luis Figo after Fifa
became embroiled in two serious
criminal investigations earlier this week.
On Wednesday, US authorities arrested
seven Fifa officials in Zurich, while a
further 14 were indicted on suspicion of
corruption and bribery.
A separate investigation launched by
Swiss officials will investigate the
bidding process for the 2018 and 2022
World Cups.