Prince William declared the need for the FIFA to learn the lessons of the corruption scandal which hit the International Olympic Committee over the decision to award the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City, after it emerged that IOC members had been offered inducements to support the city’s bid. Impressing FIFA to apply the progressive steps taken by Salt Lake City, he called on the football association to prioritize the sport over secondary considerations and asked backers of FIFA like sponsors and regional confederations to do their bit to ”press these reforms”.
William, who had strongly backed England’s failed bid to host the 2018 competition, commended the decision of the former Manchester United’s Chief executive’s decision to pull out of FIFA’s executive committee as a show of solidarity towards all those resent the re-election of Blatter. “know I join with all of you in commending David Gill for his decision to stand down from the ExCo, and to lead by example by doing so,” he told the audience.
The re-election of the 79 year old as president of FIFA has left many disappointed despite the fact he has not been implicated in the recent epic scandal to hit his organisation. Many however believe that the football mogul should step down and take some responsibility for the gross level of corruption that took place in an organisation over which he presides as head. Blatter has so far defiantly refused to step down. The daughter of the FIFA President today told the BBC that calls for her dad to resign were borne out of a conspiracy from behind the scenes.
Her view is slightly mistaken. Corruption in football has been going on for a while and has been brought to the attention of the public a few times in the last few years. When corruption of the magnitude exposed by the U.S Ministry of justice continues with impunity, it rightly questions how the guy in charge did nothing about it, and beggars belief at any suggestion whether fact or not, that he knew nothing about it. The united cry for his resignation is on well founded grounds, even though his daughter can be forgiven for finding the public pressure embarrassing and inconveniencing.
Prince William’s public support for David Gill to step down says it all
