Blatter hits back at Dyke: We will publish – if you don’t sue
SNIPING between Sepp Blatter and the Football Association escalated yesterday when the president of world governing body Fifa hit back in the row over alleged World Cup bid corruption.
Responding to FA chairman Greg Dyke’s call for full publication of a Fifa ethics committee’s investigation into corruption claims, Blatter said he was forbidden by Swiss law but would be willing to do so with respect to sections of the report pertaining to England’s failed bid for the 2018 tournament – if the FA waived its right to take legal action.
“Publication… might be permissible if the persons and entities included in the report consent… and waive any right to legal action,” Blatter wrote. “I would therefore like to ask you whether we may interpret your letter as providing consent.”
Blatter’s letter to Dyke will be seen as a challenge to the FA chief to cease criticism of Fifa unless he does not want to be accused of hypocrisy in calling for transparency.
England’s bid team were accused of appearing willing to entertain corrupt requests in Fifa ethics adjudicator Hans-Joachim Eckert’s summary of the investigation findings last week.
Dyke, who had not joined the FA at that time of bidding, has defended the team’s conduct, insisting on Thursday: “We have nothing to hide.”