A RED CARD

The corruption scandal in the International Football Federation (FIFA) has brought one political shock after another like a row of dominoes. In particular, UEFA [Union of European Football Associations] is threatened with having to hold alternative world games, but the leadership of the English Football Federation has raised the issue of boycotting the World Championship 2018 in Russia. FIFA President Joseph [Sepp] Blatter resigned after UEFA exerted colossal pressure. But recently the leaders of the African and Asian football associations asked Blatter to re-consider his decision to resign. The president of the Kiev Football Federation, Igor KOCHETOV, commented to Regionplus on the reasons for the frustration regarding Blatter, the pluses and minuses for world football in the period of his FIFA leadership.

- Can the same leader of FIFA since 1998 remain in the post of president for the next term?

- A person who is involved in corruption cannot remain in the football sphere. Football plays an important role in society, therefore this sphere should be used in developing society and in forming honest mutual relations. It is not permissible for football to be used for personal enrichment or building corrupt schemes. If it becomes clear during the investigation that Blatter or those close to him are involved in corruption, then he will be obliged to resign.

- What will change if Blatter steps down? Will some kind of reforms start to be implemented in world football?

- For the moment, no accusations have been made against Blatter. Further investigation will throw light on things. At the same time, it needs to be admitted that Blatter has made a certain personal contribution to the development of football. Yes, Blatter did oppose reforms like video monitoring of controversial moments in the match. The fact is that mistakes made by the referee, like errors made by the players, are a component part of the football match. The most important thing is that there should not be any bias, there should not be any match fixing or any manipulation of football.

- Contemporary international football organisations are managed with gigantic funding. This offers a huge plain of activity for corruption…

- For the moment an investigation is under way into the case of a number of FIFA officials. The investigation is dealing with certain suspicions and doubts. In the course of the investigation these suspicions should be debunked or confirmed. Should the suspicions turn out to be well-founded and proven, then the entire FIFA leadership ought to resign. Even if it becomes clear that Blatter's failure to act has facilitated the development of corruption, he will be obliged to leave FIFA immediately. I believe that it is a highly unlikely that Blatter will remain the FIFA president for another term. I think the most preferable choice amongst those standing for FIFA president is [current UEFA president and retired French footballer] Michel Platini.

- Incidentally, it was Platini who demanded Blatter's resignation in the most decisive fashion. He threatened to set up an alternative to FIFA.

- Regarding Blatter's possible involvement in corruption Platini said quite plainly that Europe was opposed to Blatter. I feel sure that Platini and the UEFA executive committee will continue to maintain that stance. If Blatter miraculously remains in the post of FIFA president, UEFA will take the relevant steps which will definitely not be to Blatter's advantage.

As far as Platini's firm stand is concerned, there is a line that should not be crossed. Blatter has apparently crossed that line, which is unacceptable to the ethics, philosophy, and psychology of European football and to Platini personally.