The presser is the capstone to a rollercoaster of a week filled with corruption allegations against key FIFA officials.
During the conference, reporters grilled Blatter, who will stand unopposed for his fourth term as FIFA president on Wednesday, on the standing of FIFA and the need for change.
~~~~~~ Blatter: I regret what has happened in last days and weeks, it has done great damage to FIFA, but is also a great disappointment…
Saudi newspaper: Media today talking about a crisis. Is it a crisis?
Blatter answers: If somebody would describe to me a crisis? What is a crisis. If you see the Champions League you would applaud. We are only in some difficulties. And will be solved inside our family.
Question: Do you believe Qatar bid was clean?
A: I believe that the decision which we took for World Cup 2022 was done exactly clean in the same pattern and again say what I said at beginning of press conference there is no issue for the World Cup 2022.
Q: Norway journalist: FIFA reputation at lowest ever. How did it happen on your watch.
A: I tried to have the FIFA reputation at highest possible way. We are in a game, in this game will tell you there is a lot of gambling and not only on the field of play. Have to say at beginning of FIFA when I entered 36 years ago. We have no problems, until 1998, this was the modest FIFA. Now are a comfortable FIFA and because we are too comfortable and being in a game all the little devils can enter the game. ~~~~~~~~
that's a bit off topic, but .. me too .. it's huge .. we can only hope now this investigation and on-going prosecutions will deter some others from now .. "it's a sad day for European soccer .. a massive problem and very difficult to stamp out" .. that bit just heard on the radio .. organized crime is a curse, entrenched in so many areas of society and now we see to some more sport .. terrible to see .. the 'fix' cloud will sully games for a long time .. mainly linked, i hear, to Asian crime syndicates .. wonder if ping-pong is clean .. :)
It was Plato who said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing”
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