English may not be FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s first language, but his reported comments during his visit to Johannesburg should be questioned by his colleagues as well as the football public.
Blatter was quoted in various media outlets as saying that FIFA’s ethics committee had “Adequately” dealt with six of its officials for improper conduct during the world cup bidding process. He also claimed that the latest unproven allegations did not constitute corruption, but when it comes to FIFA there is often no smoke without fire.
He was obviously feeling the heat as the fire may have been smouldering under his backside as he reportedly raised his voice and slammed his fist down on the table for emphasis.
“FIFA is not a corrupt organisation. If there is no proven evidence then it is not corruption.” He is quoted as saying, which many fans will find hard to swallow.
“Our Committee for ethics, they intervened in October in the matters of six people and they made the adequate investigation and the adequate decisions.”
The English Dictionary has two explanations for the word “adequate,” the first meaning: ‘enough -sufficient in quality or quantity to meet a need or qualify for something.’ The second is “just barely enough -just barely sufficient in quality or quantity to meet a need or qualify for something.”
Which makes one ask is “adequate” really sufficient? Or sufficently in as much as it satisfys certain people’s purposes?
If as reported overnight from Europe that a behind closed doors deal has been done whereby the AFC President, Mohamed Bin Hamman, who is contesting the FIFA Presidency with Mr Blatter steps aside in return for his country Qatar keeping the 2022 World Cup hosting rights, then we will know that Mr Blatter’s assurances are nothing more than hot air, and that ‘adequate’ is totally unacceptable.
FFS! “FIFA is not a corrupt organisation. If there is no proven evidence then it is not corruption.”
didn’t Nixon say something similar once during watergate – Its not illegal if the president does it!