MPs hear of more meddling from FIFA

THE extent FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his lieutenants go to in order to influence supposed independent decision-making in Zurich was laid bare in Westminster yesterday.

Former FIFA governance chief Miguel Maduro, who lasted 11 months in the post, told the DCMS sport select committee that his sacking followed him blocking Russian deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko from the FIFA Council because of a conflict of interests with his senior political role.

But FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura warned Maduro that barring Mutko would lead to next year’s World Cup in Russia being a ‘disaster’ and place Infantino’s presidency in jeopardy.

Portuguese academic Maduro, speaking under parliamentary privilege, said: ‘The secretary general made it clear to me that it was extremely problematic. More than that, she said we needed to find a solution to declare Mr Mutko eligible, otherwise the presidency itself would be in question and the World Cup would be a disaster.’

Interference from on high at FIFA has also led to former investigative ethics chief Cornel Borbely — axed like Maduro on the eve of the FIFA Congress in Bahrain last May — having to turn down a request to give evidence to the same select committee about sports governance.

Chairman Damian Collins wrote to Infantino seeking permission for Borbely to attend but received a letter back from Samoura. She refused on the grounds of confidentiality, adding Borbely could face potential criminal action under Swiss law if he did so.

Collins said he was surprised that Samoura, rather than Infantino, had replied and did not refer the request to the FIFA ethics committee.

Answering questions about the lack of real change at FIFA since Infantino succeeded the disgraced Sepp Blatter, Maduro said Infantino had wanted to make reforms but had chosen to ‘politically survive, preserving his presidency’ above protecting the independent bodies.