Blatter pledges to stamp out corruption - in Zimbabwe

Sepp Blatter was probably too busy hobnobbing with Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe in Harare yesterday to take much notice of yet more criticism of Fifa from Britain, but that did not stop MPs from laying into the body and announcing themselves "appalled" by the allegations of corruption levelled at football's governing body.

MPs, who were raking over the ashes of Engand's dismal efforts to host the 2018 World Cup, said that the Fifa corruption scandal, precipitated by Lord Triesman in his evidence to the committee, meant that the credibility of the organisation had been "hugely damaged".

However, Blatter, who is on a visit to Zimbabwe, had other fish to fry. He announced that he would crack down on "shady deals" in Africa and said that Interpol would be investigating allegations of match fixing as Fifa did "not tolerate" corruption.

Back in May, Lord Triesman, the one-time head of the 2018 bid team, told MPs that several senior Fifa members had demanded money and favours in return for votes.

Those claims turned out to be the tip of the iceberg and other allegations or corruption surfaced, and in the end Blatter's rival for the presidency of Fifa Mohamed bin Hammam of Qater was forced to withdraw from the race and one of the organisation's longest-serving vice-presidents, Jack Warner, stood down.

The MPs report called for "a full, urgent and independent investigation" into the various allegations against the body, but noted: "Fifa has given every impression of wishing to sweep all allegations of misconduct under the carpet and dismissing anyone bringing allegations to them with an approach bordering on contempt."

It described Fifa's decision to drop its investigation into allegations against Warner after he stood down from the organisation as "extraordinary".

However, the FA also came in for its fair share of criticism, and the committee said it was "frustrating and disappointing" that Triesman did not raise his concerns until almost six months after the humiliating vote had taken place.

The FA was also urged to push for "real change" at Fifa, even though it has been reduced to the status of a pariah over the last few months.

Meanwhile Blatter was in the African country of Zimbabwe, which has recently been hit by a match fixing scandal. However, there were reassuring words from the president of Fifa as he met with Robert Mugabe.

"At Fifa, we do not tolerate corruption and that should cascade to associations countrywide," declared Blatter, with a straight face.
 
"We will make sure that all those that are found guilty do not come back to football for good. They do not deserve space in football," he added. ·