Following the announcement of the Swiss authorities that they are starting a criminal investigation into Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, Transparency International issued the following statement.
Cobus de Swardt, managing director of Transparency International said today:
“The criminal investigations at FIFA have now reached the very top, showing that the organisation is not fit for purpose. It needs independent oversight immediately. No statement from the current management about reform can be trusted. Sepp Blatter should have nothing to do with FIFA while these investigations are continuing. As we have said in the past, without a real independent reform commission there can be no confidence that FIFA can end this corruption crisis.
“The billions of football fans around the world have watched as FIFA’s name has become synonymous with corruption. It is now time for a change.
“Sepp Blatter should step down immediately.”
Transparency International has been calling for Sepp Blatter to step down since the arrests in May. We firmly believe that FIFA cannot reform itself. This is one more indication that an independent reform commission is needed.