FIFA LEADER Sepp Blatter said Saturday he was “shocked” at the way the US judiciary has targeted football’s world body and slammed what he called a “hate” campaign by Europe’s football leaders.
In an interview with Swiss television, Blatter said he suspected the arrest of seven FIFA officials on Wednesday under a US anti-corruption warrant was an attempt to “interfere with the congress” at which he was elected Friday.
Commenting on the fact that it came only two days before his election, he told RTS: “I am not certain, but it doesn’t smell good.”
He also condemned comments on FIFA made by US judiciary leaders including Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
“Of course I am shocked. I would never as FIFA president make comments about another organisation without being certain of what has happened.”
Lynch said corruption in football was “rampant, systemic and deep-rooted, both abroad and here in the United States.”
