Kissinger keen on helping FIFA

Henry Kissinger says he is interested in accepting FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s invitation to help reform the embattled governing body.

The former US Secretary of State was identified as someone who could lead a new ‘solutions committee’ within the organisation.

Kissinger, 88, said it was a position he would be keen on.

“He’s not been specific, except to say he wants to create a group of wise men to deal with issues which may arise,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“If it can help I’d be willing to participate but we need to know other participants and terms of reference.”

The 1973 Nobel Peace prize winner was involved in the reform of the International Olympic Committee and played a part in helping the United States win the hosting rights to the 1994 World Cup.

Blatter, who was re-elected unopposed as president on Wednesday, said he wants to improve accountability within the game’s governing body after allegations of corruption in the past month.

“This will be a commission of the wise. Kissinger loves football – he’ll be part of it,” Blatter said on Thursday.

“And (Johan) Cruyff, he’s the perfect personality to help us in this solution commission.”

The move came after Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner were both suspended after bribery allegations, before the presidential election.

Bin Hammam was due to oppose Blatter, who was cleared by FIFA’s Ethics Committee of offering financial incentives to FIFA delegates, but he withdrew after being suspended by the same committee.

Later, an email from FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke was released in which he claimed Qatar ‘bought’ the hosting rights to the 2022 World Cup, but he said those comments were misunderstood.

Since being re-elected, Blatter has said he wants FIFA to regain its credibility.