After foul on fans: for Blatter the season has (prematurely) ended; the European Parliament adopts a resolution on high-level corruption cases in FIFA.
With the S&D Group taking the leadership in the initiative, the European Parliament adopted today a resolution on the recent revelations on high-level corruption cases in FIFA with a vast majority.
S&D MEP and coordinator on culture and education affairs, Petra Kammerevert, said:
"The FIFA scandal documents a new dimension in corruption and is a slap in the face for every football fan. As overdue as Joseph Blatter's resignation may have been, Blatter never was the sole problem. FIFA only lost its prominent head, but the question that remains is what will happen with the Blatter system itself? Just now the way would be open for extensive reforms and a new adjustment of FIFA, simply carrying on with the agenda is not an option.
"Sport provides basic values, like fairness, team spirit and the acceptance of rules which are basic principles to which the whole society adheres. Corruption endangers these positive basic values and destroys the essence of sport.
"For many years, voluntary commitments, half-hearted reforms and the ethical commission of FIFA have been useless against the self-service mentality of many FIFA officials. The consistent action of the US public prosecutor's office clearly shows the importance of criminal prosecution. Therefore, we also need good governance with clear international standards and rules to protect the integrity of sport.
"A culture of transparency and responsibility should be the order of the day for FIFA from now on. And not just FIFA, but all international sports associations must implement plausible compliance guidelines which contain directives for the associations' own ethics. It requires binding and transparent rules based on true democratic structures which are controlled by an independent supervisory board as well as an independent association justice system which is composed of figures with integrity and a legal background.
"Also the EU Commission is asked to assume its responsibilities in the field of sport and to bring coordination and support. Legislative measures at European level are also to be considered, in particular if criminal offences are committed under the cloak of sports.
S&D MEP Silvia Costa, chair of the committee on culture and education of the European Parliament, said:
"Without transparency and good governance we weaken the autonomy of sport organisations and violate the values and fundamental principles of sport.
"With this resolution the European Parliament asks for a strong commitment from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), as well as other sports organisations, to fight corruption and implement a code of conduct and a zero-tolerance policy on corruption in sport.
S&D MEP Marc Tarabella, co-president of the Sport Intergroup at the European Parliament added:
"Blatter's resignation will not bring back the 1,200 people who have died on construction sites in Qatar nor will it erase the manipulation and embezzlement which has taken place on a massive scale and which will one day hopefully be explained fully before a court.
"The decision is good news for football worldwide but it is not enough. What we want to stress in this resolution that profound reform is needed. We need football governance that is beyond suspicion that provides a fair and healthy framework in which athletes from around the world can trust in and identify with."
