Blatter proposes new reforms

Sepp Blatter has outlined reforms to be implemented if he is re-elected as FIFA President, while also revealing he once rejected a bribe.

Blatter, 75, is campaigning for re-election to his post as head of world football’s governing body, a role he has held since 1998.

The Swiss is up against Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hammam, with the election set to take place on June 1.

The issue of alleged corruption within FIFA has dominated the election agenda.

In response, Blatter has proposed changes to the process of selecting the chairman on three key committees.

“Handling the past will be presented to the Congress,” Blatter said.

“We have to make sure that immediately after the election that we rebuild the image of FIFA.”

“We need to reinforce the judicial bodies and we shall find a solution how to handle the past in order that we can stop forever in the future all these damaging things about corruption.”

“These bodies should be more independent and this is a question I will bring to the Congress, that the Congress should elect the members of these committees or at least the chairmen of the three committees – the ethics, disciplinary and appeal committees.”

Blatter also revealed that was given cash in an envelope – an attempted bribe – during his time as FIFA General Secretary, a role he held between 1981 and 1998.

He did not reveal who tried to bribe him.

“I received once an envelope, when I was secretary general and in this envelope there was an amount of money,” Blatter said.

“I couldn’t refuse because he put it in my pocket.”

“I came home here to FIFA and gave it to the finance director and he put this money on the account of the Swiss Bank Corporation at that time, and informed the guy ‘the money you gave to the secretary general is in that bank’ and a few days later he reclaimed it.”

“Then it was specifically known that please don’t try to give money to somebody who’s in the FIFA.”