Statement from the FIFA President regarding the closing of the investigation.

Joseph S. Blatter: ‘This was a dirty game that must never be repeated’ FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter welcomed today’s decision of the Prosecutor’s Office District I for the Canton of Zurich to close theinvestigation opened as a result of a complaint filed by 11 members of theFIFA Executive Committee on 13 May 2002. The Public Prosecutor has alsoconfirmed this decision.

‘My good name has been cleared in all 12 matters. In the wording of the decision, excerpts such as ‘it cannot be maintained that Joseph Blatter engaged in any unlawful conduct’, ‘…does not justify any claims of misuse of funds’ and ‘this conduct […] does not merit prosecution’ confirm that this complaint was without foundation and that its sole intention was to prevent my re-election as FIFA President on 30 May 2002.

‘The decision of the Prosecutor’s Office also states that ‘the Complainants […] had accused Joseph Blatter of actions which they themselves had collectively approved. In this regard, the complaint was not only reprehensible, which is self-evident under the given circumstances, but also bordering on false accusation.

‘The whole matter has been a dirty game that has caused unnecessary and untold damage to the image of football, the game’s world governing body and not least that of its President.

‘I have chosen to refuse any legal redress or compensation due to me. I would rather follow the proposal of the Prosecutor’s Office that FIFA, as an injured party, ‘covers the costs of this frivolous process brought by FIFA Executive Committee members by making a donation to a charitable organisation in the Canton of Zurich.

‘The fact that this investigation has been closed justifies the trust placed in my person at the FIFA Congress in Seoul on 30 May 2002. I hope, for the good of the game and all those who love and serve it, that we will never again see such a campaign, which was unjust and based purely upon slander and groundless complaints.’

Eleven members of the former FIFA Executive Committee had filed a complaint on 13 May 2002 against the FIFA President with the Prosecutor’s Office for the Canton of Zurich regarding alleged misappropriation and mismanagement.

The complaint was largely based upon a report compiled by the then FIFA General Secretary, Michel Zen-Ruffinen.

For further information please contact:

Andreas Herren
Fifa Communications
T: +41 1 254 9800
F: +41 1 384 9696