Hey Sepp, this how we live

We are holding our noses

‘What do we have to be grateful for?’

FIFA brand police on the prowl

Photo of FIFA President Sepp Blatter holding the World Cup

The things they say...

‘Neither FIFA nor its President have anything to hide, nor do they wish to.’

Blatter press release, 28 January, 2003

BBC Panorama Reporter Andy Davies:

‘A one million franc bribe … is it not correct that Mr Blatter asked that it be moved to the FIFA official who was named on the payment slip?’

FIFA Director of Communications Markus Siegler:

‘If you do not stop now, then we call the security and we put you out.’

FIFA Press conference, Zurich, Tuesday, 11 April 2006

‘I am deputy chairman of the finance committee of FIFA. I oversee a budget of US$2 billion and I have never seen one iota of corruption.’

Jack Warner, Trinidad Express 12 December 2004

‘Lying and deception and bad faith are standard operating procedure at FIFA.’

Adam C. Silverstein, a lawyer for MasterCard in their successful action against FIFA, New York, December 1, 2006

‘I do not believe a Jew can ever be a referee at that level (Argentine Premier League) because it’s hard work and, you know, Jews don’t like hard work.’

FIFA senior vice-president and chair of Finance Committee, Julio Grondona, 5 July 2003. Buenos Aires

‘FIFA is a healthy, clean and transparent organisation with nothing to hide. There is huge public interest in FIFA, therefore we have to be as transparent as possible. We will try to communicate in a more open way so the world can believe us and be proud of their federation.’

FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi, January 2003, on fifa.com

Now South African press dumps on Blatter

By Andrew Jennings

Saturday May 22, 2010

News of Blatter’s demand for the most luxurious suite in Africa at Joburg’s five-star Michaelangelo Hotel provoked rage and satire. Here the Afrikaans tabloid in the Cape, the Daily Voice, mocks Blatter’s demand for an ‘African-themed’ bathroom. He seems to neither know nor care that millions of citizens put up with earth closets in wooden or tin huts.

Too late, South Africa wakes up to FIFA

Durban Mercury Friday 7 May - Anger as FIFA’s lawyers clamp down on fans and traders in their ‘commercial restriction zones.’

Blatter moons South Africa. Mail & Guardian cartoonist Zapiro reflects growing anger that FIFA couldn’t care less about the host nation’s problems.

In the Sunday Tribune of May 2, 2010 columnist Jubulani Sikhakhane adds his voice to worries about his country has capitulated to ‘King Sepp.’

There was outrage in South Africa at FIFA threats to remove accreditation from reporters who were critical of FIFA.

The Independent on May 1, 2010, mocked Blatter and his claims to be incorruptible. Do Blatter’s aides dare show him the rising anger and disdain in this year’s World Cup host country?

Fahrenheit 2010: As print media unearths the stories that have to be told and investigated about FIFA – the TV channels duck their responsibility to fairly inform the people and have degenerated into cheerleaders. Their excuse? ‘Anything perceived as negative is not in our interest.’

The South African edition of lad’s mag FHM was on the job early in April with 7 pages of analysis of FIFA and its leaders.

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