IOC urges FIFA to act over vote-selling
Reuters - Tuesday 26 October 2010, 20:53
ACAPULCO, Mexico, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The International
Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged FIFA to introduce reforms that
could rid the organisation of corruption in the wake of the
vote-selling allegations that have rocked football.
More than a decade after the IOC was plunged into crisis
following revelations about the awarding of the 2002 Winter
Games to Salt Lake City, FIFA is facing similar allegations of
vote-selling and unethical behaviour in the bidding for the 2018
and 2022 World Cups.
Two FIFA executive committee members have already been
suspended and two of the bid candidates are being investigated
over allegations of collusion, prompting cries of foul and calls
for an independent investigation.
IOC president Jacques Rogge said on Sunday he had been in
contact with Sepp Blatter, president of football's governing body
FIFA, since the revelations were made public and supported his
decision to launch a probe.
"I had a discussion with Mr Blatter," Rogge told reporters
on Tuesday at the end of an IOC executive board meeting in
Acapulco.
"He was so kind to call me when the whole issue emerged and
he kept me informed about what he had done and the decision that
had been taken by FIFA. I encouraged him to do exactly what he
has done and to try to clean out as much as possible."
IOC REFORMS
The IOC introduced several reforms after the Salt Lake
affair, the biggest Olympic corruption scandal.
The reforms included a ban on members visiting cities
bidding for the Games while 10 members were forced to leave the
organisation for breaking rules on accepting gifts.
"I think the IOC took the right conclusions on something
that was very unpleasant," Rogge said.
"I think we did everything we could and I'm sure the IOC
came out of the crisis as a better and more transparent
organisation and I hope that will also be the case for my
friends in sport (FIFA)."
Despite the IOC's actions to stop unethical behaviour, Rogge
said it was naive to think any organisation could not be
corrupted by individuals.
"I believe the rules we have put in place definitely protect
us as much as possible because you can never say never in life
because cheating is imbedded in human nature," Rogge said.
"Sometimes I get the question, 'Will doping ever completely
disappear?', and I say 'no this is impossible'.
"Today I am saying we are very vigilant, we have strict
rules and I believe this protects us as much as possible but you
can never say never."