Blatter slams UEFA objections

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit out at UEFA for what he sees as efforts to stop his plans of making his organisation more transparent.

Blatter was surprised by UEFA’s decision to stand against proposals from FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee (IGC), which supervises reform at world football’s governing body.

UEFA last month rejected a move to cap FIFA executive committee members to two four-year terms, and they also want the FIFA president to serve for a maximum of 12 years, rather than the eight suggested by the IGC.

Blatter said UEFA should discuss the proposals with each of their national football associations rather than acting autonomously to reject the moves.

“The reform process is on the way to conclusion,” Blatter said in South Africa, where he will attend the Africa Cup of Nations final.

“Two parts have been implemented by Congress: the establishment of an independent ethics committee and the fact Congress and not the executive committee will choose future World Cup hosts.

“Now there are 10 or 11 other points that have to be dealt with by the next FIFA Congress in Mauritius in May.

“I’m surprised by the reaction of UEFA, because the executive committee told the confederations they should consult their national associations about the reforms and what they think about the last part of the amendments to the statutes.

“And I’m surprised because it did not seem like a consultation, it seemed like was decision-making from UEFA where the national associations have signed a declaration against this.

“The idea was that at the FIFA Congress, all national associations have the right to speak on the amendments in favour or against. We have asked the confederations to make consultations, we have not asked them to make decisions.

“If all the Confederations make decisions, what is the point of the FIFA Congress?”

The 76-year-old declined to confirm whether he would step down from the FIFA presidency when his term ends in 2015.

“As far as 2015 is concerned, no-one can see into the future but I will fight for the reform of FIFA and I will fight to keep what FIFA is now, a federation of national associations and not a holding of confederations,” he said.

“I will fight that until the last day of my mandate in 2015.

“My mandate ends in 2015, if God gives me my health, and I know I have to stop but I don’t know when I will stop.”