Sepp Blatter hints US has ulterior motives in FIFA probe

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has slammed the United States’ judiciary for indicting officials from soccer's governing body ahead of its presidential election and criticized soccer leaders in Europe for running what he called a “hate campaign.”

Blatter said Saturday that he was shocked at the way the US judiciary targeted FIFA, adding that he suspected that the arrest of FIFA officials as part of a US-led probe was an attempt to interfere with the votes to elect the body’s president.

In votes held in the Swiss city of Zurich on Friday, Blatter was reelected as FIFA’s president for another four-year term amid a widespread scandal involving the senior members of the body.

The corruption case made headlines Wednesday, when Swiss authorities launched a raid on a gathering of senior FIFA members in Zurich, arresting seven high-profile officials.

The Swiss government said the raid was part of a probe led by the United States into corruption allegations against the FIFA officials.

A separate probe has been launched in Switzerland into the granting of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup events respectively to Russia and Qatar.

Blatter, who was speaking to Swiss television channel RTS, condemned comments on FIFA made by US judiciary officials, calling them part of a “deliberate campaign” against the global organization.

“I would never as FIFA president make comments about another organization without being certain of what has happened,” Blatter said, referring to remarks made by US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who criticized FIFA for ignoring the “rampant, systemic and deep-rooted” corruption in the soccer body.

Some members of the US Congress also urged FIFA to reconsider its rewarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia, with Republican Senator Robert Menendez, saying he has been deeply “concerned about FIFA’s selection of Russia.”

Blatter said the US-led probe may be influenced by Washington’s disappointment in having the 2022 World Cup on its soil.

“There are signs which cannot be mistaken: the Americans were candidates for the 2022 World Cup and they lost,” Blatter said, adding, “I am not certain, but it doesn’t smell good.”

Blatter also said Washington was the foremost supporter of his sole challenger in the Friday votes, Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan, who withdrew from the race after the first round.

Hate campaign originating from Europe

Blatter also criticized a call for his resignation by the president of the European soccer association Michel Platini, calling it a hate campaign.

“It is a hate that comes not just from one person at UEFA, it comes from the UEFA organization that cannot understand that in 1998 I became president,” Blatter said , adding that he will not forget the comments made by the former French soccer player.

In his speech after election, Blatter vowed to give a “stronger” FIFA to his successor in four years. The 79-year-old Swiss man has been in FIFA for around 40 years and has served as its president for the last 17 years.

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