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'If people think Blatter going will solve the problems in football, good luck and think again'

It is a decision that sent shockwaves through football, but one none of us expected so soon. BBC ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

21.20 2 Jun 2015


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'If people think Blatt...

'If people think Blatter going will solve the problems in football, good luck and think again'

Newstalk
Newstalk

21.20 2 Jun 2015


Share this article


It is a decision that sent shockwaves through football, but one none of us expected so soon.

BBC South American football correspondent Tim Vickery was speaking for many when he told Off The Ball that his "jaw was on the floor" following Sepp Blatter's resignation announcement.

Tim and football writer Philippe Auclair joined us on tonight's show to react to the news and the Frenchman believes Blatter had his legacy in mind in coming to this decision.

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"One thing that always mattered to Sepp Blatter was his legacy. I think he was dreaming of himself of getting the Nobel Peace Prize. A number of jokes have been made about that. But the train of events has unstoppable. And one thing that I noticed is that people say 'he has resigned'. No, he hasn't resigned, guys, he will stay in place until the new congress and those six, seven, eight, nine months will be a chance for him to wipe the slate clean to appear in the eyes of the world as the man who was true to his word and tried to reform FIFA," said Auclair, adding that he does not expect any skeletons in the cupboard to haunt Blatter apart from his silence. 

However, Auclair believes FIFA's handling of today's events as "catastrophic", particularly their reaction to the letter sent from the South African FA to FIFA.

He also added that "if people think Blatter is going to solve the problems in football, good luck and think again".

He and Tim also analysed the role UEFA can play and whether they can come up with an inclusive candidate to replace Blatter who can also be equitable when it comes to its treatment of the rest of the world.


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