Blatter on Reform; Valcke Defends Brazil 2014 Match Times, Stays Mum on Preps

(WFI) President Sepp Blatter denies there is any opposition in the Executive Committee to FIFA’s ongoing reforms process.

"There is not one single member who is opposed," he said Friday following a two-day Ex-Co meeting in Zurich.

"The Executive Committee is fully behind me because, let’s be honest, it is my reform – not only by obligation, but by conviction. I am convinced that we have to do it."

His defense follows recent remarks by Independent Governance Committee chairman Mark Pieth indicating frustration with the willingness – or lack thereof – of older Ex-Co members to embrace change.

"All members are happy to support the reforms process," the FIFA president insisted, "and this has been confirmed today."

He was referring to Friday’s creation of a working group chaired by Ex-Co member Theo Zwanziger of Germany. Together with the general secretaries and legal directors of the confederations and FIFA, he will consult the 209 member associations and submit proposals for the revision of the FIFA Statutes.

"We have realized a big part of the reforms," said Blatter. "The statutes will be easier to realize because the statutes are not so bad."

Echoing comments made ahead of this week’s Ex-Co, the Swiss added: "We are not perfect. We cannot be perfect. We are 300 million people. We are not a corrupt or mafia organization. We are an institution that takes care that this game can bring emotions and hope to this perturbed world where we are."

Valcke Defends 2014 Match Times, Stays Mum on Preps

Secretary general Jerome Valcke did the bulk of FIFA’s talking Friday about the 2014 World Cup, fielding repeated questions from Brazilian reporters about the kickoff times approved Thursday by the Ex-Co.

"There is not much choice on the match schedule, and we have to adapt ourselves," he said, denying concerns that midday matches in northeast Brazil would suffer poor play due to intense summer heat.

"FIFA’s medical department, the Local Organizing Committee and football specialists all agreed these kickoffs were still times where players can play without any problems," he added.

"One team will not suffer more than another, and no one will get an unfair benefit."

Valcke chalked up the host’s seemingly fortunate schedule to luck and luck alone.

"The match schedule has not been organized just for Brazil to win this World Cup," he said.

"They are lucky, and they are playing in very good conditions."

Blatter, for his part, said he would not speak about 2014 World Cup preparation for two reasons – because "we are ready now to go to Brazil" and because that’s Valcke’s job.

"There’s a lot to say about Brazil," he admitted, "but I wouldn’t take the floor away."

Turning to his secretary general, the FIFA president asked: "They will be ready? Will they not be ready?"

Valcked answered: "They have to." He did not elaborate.

2018 Host Cities Announcement to Come

Perhaps the top item on the Ex-Co's agenda was one not mentioned at all in Friday's closing press conference.

While the 11 host cities for Russia 2018 were confirmed by FIFA, they won't be known until Saturday when Blatter travels toMoscow to help announce the winning candidates during a live broadcast of the "Segodnya Vecherom" show scheduled for 9:20 p.m. local time.

Written by Matthew Grayson

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