Opera singer to combat FIFA corruption

Sepp Blatter has invited opera singer Placido Domingo to join former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on a ‘council of wisdom’ at FIFA.

In a surreal turn to the recent turmoil at world’s football’s governing body, FIFA President Blatter announced the recruitment of 70-year-old Spanish tenor Domingo to his reform program.

He will join 88-year-old Kissinger and former FBI chief Louis Freeh as part of Blatter’s promised anti-corruption initiatives.

“These gentlemen are more or less advisers, they are not the experts but advisers,” Blatter told CNN, after initialling forgetting Domingo’s name in the interview.

“I have also contacted the Spanish singer … help me with the name.”

Promoted by the interviewer, Blatter said: “Placido Domingo will be part.”

“He is happy, he is proud that he is part – as Kissinger also. People say he is an old man, but he is a wise man.”

“What they should be also is the kind of council of wisdom – which my executive committee would not like because they think they are the council of wisdom.”

Blatter also revealed that he does not consider it necessary for FIFA to launch an investigation into Qatar’s bid for the 2022 World Cup.

An enquiry had been mooted after an email was released in which FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke suggested the gulf state had ‘bought’ the tournament.

But Valcke claims the comments were a casual reference to Qatar’s financial strength in the lobbying process and not an allegation of corruption.

After earlier hinting that the bid could come under scrutiny, Blatter has dismissed calls for action.

“I don’t know why we should go in (to an investigation) – then we shall (have to) go to all (bids),” Blatter said.

“I don’t know why we should open something because somebody has said something towards Qatar.”

The 75-year-old Swiss did leave the door open for the FIFA’s independent committees to investigate the bid if they see fit.

“If this committee of solutions or the ethics committee have the impression that they should do something then let them take the decisions.”