Blatter says FIFA’s image damaged by recent events

Posted Monday, May 30, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

ZURICH, May 29 (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter, cleared of any wrongdoing in soccer’s bribery inquiry on Sunday, said the organisation’s image had suffered as a result of recent events.

FIFA’s ethics committee suspended his former presidential rival Mohamed bin Hamamm and fellow executive committee vice-president Jack Warner on Sunday pending an investigation into bribes-for-votes claims.

“I do not wish to comment in detail but simply to say that I regret what has happened in the last few days and weeks,” Blatter said in a statement on Sunday.

“FIFA’s image has suffered a great deal as a result, much to the disappointment of FIFA itself and all football fans.”

The committee decided Blatter had no case to answer in the matter, which concerns allegations that money was paid to some delegates as an inducement to vote for Bin Hammam.

The Qatari head of the Asian Football Confederation stood down from the campaign ahead of the hearing and FIFA confirmed on Sunday that Wednesday’s election would go ahead.

That leaves Blatter clear to seek a fourth term in charge of soccer’s world governing body, which he has run since 1998, unopposed.