Blatter: "No Swiss Names" Among ISL Payees
FIFA president Sepp Blatter is once again attempting to justify the reforms process for his corruption-stricken organization.
After last week sparking a storm of controversy for saying racism was not a problem in football, Blatter spoke to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Monday about his plans to root out corruption within world football’s governing body.
"I can only tell you that there are no Swiss names on the list of people who accepted payments," he said in an effort to distance himself from some members of the FIFA Executive Committee who are accused of receiving kickbacks in the infamous ISL marketing scandal.
"Those who are hunting me and suggesting that Sepp Blatter is on the list are plain wrong."
Among those under investigation are African football boss Issa Hayatou, CONMEBOL president Nicolas Leoz and Brazil 2014 World Cup chief Ricardo Teixeira.
"It does look like some people won't be able to stay on the Executive Committee," added Blatter, who refused to discuss the recently reopened ISL case in any detail.
"We'll do it openly and publicly and we'll ask an independent body to judge the documents."
According to the 75-year-old Swiss, any new Ex-Co members who come in will be subject to checks by one of four new task forces – Transparency and Compliance – to make sure they are ethically sound.
"FIFA will demand a solid character reference," he insisted.
Skirt Mandate for Shuttlers?
Badminton officials will revisit a controversial proposal to their sport’sdress code after skirting the issue for the past six months.
AFP reports that the skirts-only rule for women will be up for discussion next month at a meeting of the Badminton World Federation’s decision-making Council.
"If the discussion is conclusive there'll be a decision," a BWF spokesperson told the French news agency, adding that the measure – if approved – would apply at the London Olympics.
The rule, meant to differentiate the women’s game as well as to boost its presentation, was set to take effect last June. Under pressurefrom top women’s players, the BWF instead tabled the proposal until next month’s meeting in New Zealand.
The dress code, if revised, would allow for shuttlers to wear whatever they want under their skirts, a method already practiced by many players.
Open Season for Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing’s first World Cup of the winter is in the books despite some weather issues.
Unusually warm temperatures forced the Norwegian Ski Federation to relocate the opener to Sjusjoen from Beitostoelen, where there wasn’t any snow.
Johan Olsson of Sweden outpaced two-time Olympic champion Petter Northug of Norway in Saturday’s 15km freestyle for men.
Also Saturday, three-time Olympic champion Marit Bjoergenof Norway beat out reigning Olympic champ Charlotte Kalla of Sweden in the women’s 10km freestyle.
Norwegian squads took both gold and silver in each of Sunday’s mass-start relays.
Written by Matthew Grayson.
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