The Fifa president Sepp Blatter has shrugged off the corruption claims engulfing the organisation by joking that it would expand its mission to other planets.
In his address to the Fifa Congress the day before the Brazil World Cup kicks off, Blatter said: “We shall wonder if one day our game is played on another planet? Why not? Then we will have not only a World Cup we will have inter-planetary competitions. Why not?”
But there was no mention of the controversy surrounding the Qatar 2022 World Cup that has caused a wave of concern from sponsors, the media and politicians. Instead, he referred to Fifa’s ability to inspire hope.
“Fifa is shaping society. My vision for Fifa in this changing world is that we must become one of today’s pioneers of hope,” said Blatter.
“We must carry that flame of honesty, responsibility and always of respect. If not, we will betray the spirit of this game we love.”
Fifa was under scrutiny only because football was so popular around the world and the World Cup had become “a platform for change and an opportunity for national and international debate”.
The Fifa president, preparing the way to stand for another four-year term as president despite opposition from Uefa, said that he “supported the right to peaceful protest and freedom of speech”.
Brazilians have taken to the streets to protest at the $11bn cost of the World Cup, which delivers $4bn in revenues to Fifa, and the modus operandi of world football’s governing body.
“Football is about freedom, equality and respect. People have the right to want a better world for their children to grow up in,” said Blatter in his speech to the 209 member associations.
“Football should be a force for positive change in the world and not an obstructor to it. And so should Fifa.”
Proclaiming a philosophy of “hope, faith and love”, the 78-year-old is expected to stand again for his fifth term as president in 2015.
“The World Cup, our flagship, is growing and becoming more successful. So is football in general and it won’t stop,” he insisted.
The Brazilian executive committee member José Maria Marin promised that despite the troubled build-up, the World Cup would be “unforgettable”.
“The party is about to begin. When the ball starts rolling on June 12 in São Paulo I am absolutely sure we will give the initial kick to the best World Cup of all time,” he said.
