The questions facing Blatter

UEFA president Lennart Johansson has issued Blatter with 25 detailed questions Keystone Archive

The European football association, UEFA, is expecting answers to the following questions from Sepp Blatter at Wednesday's extraordinary meeting of FIFA's Executive Committee.

1. When were you first aware of the financial difficulties facing ISL/ISMM and what steps were taken at that time to inform the FIFA Executive Committee of the potential problems ahead?

2. On what basis was the decision taken to plan a bond issue with ISL/ISMM; when was this decision taken; when and on what basis was this decision reversed and what were the practical effects on ISL/ISMM of this?

3. Could you provide a detailed breakdown of the current situation regarding the ownership and exploitation of the marketing and television rights sold to ISL/ISMM; what rights have been sold by ISL/ISMM; at what price in each case and what inventory remains to be sold?

4. What liabilities does FIFA face as a result of the ISL/ISMM bankruptcy?

5. What knowledge do you have of revenues received by ISL/ISMM and by the Kirch Group for the sale of marketing and broadcasting rights for the World Cup 2002 which have not been thus far received by FIFA?

6. When were you first aware of the discrepancies regarding the payments to FIFA from monies received by ISL/ISMM from O Globo and what steps did you take at that time?

7. What steps are you taking to legally challenge claims made by the media against your character regarding secret ISL/ISMM bank accounts in Liechtenstein?

8. What is the up-to-date position of the IT solution for World Cup 2002 and the artificial turf licensing system, given the role planned for ISL/ISMM in delivering these projects?

9. Could you explain in detail your own role in the establishment of FIFA Marketing AG, the board membership of this organisation, the procedures used to appoint the leadership of this company and the role played in the establishment of the new entity by a) Presidential advisors and b) the General Secretary.

10. When was the decision taken, and by whom, to recruit up to 65 former employees of ISL/ISMM to FIFA Marketing AG; what is the projected cost of this and what is the length and nature of the contracts on offer, including the terms and conditions agreed with the senior members of the new company?

11. What steps have been taken to return the marketing and TV rights held by ISL/ISMM to FIFA; when were these steps taken; what assumptions have been made by FIFA Marketing AG about the remaining assets and liabilities of ISL/ISMM and how do these fit with the current bankruptcy proceedings?

12. What is the overall balance sheet position for World Cup 2002, given the collapse of ISL/ISMM, the costs of creating and running FIFA Marketing AG and the inventory still available for sale?

13. Could you provide full details of the contact with the marketing agency, Traffic, for the World Club Championship and the current situation regarding the ownership of the agency?

14. What advice did you receive regarding the commercial viability of this competition; when did you receive this advice and what actions did you take as a result?

15. What led to the cancellation of this tournament; what TV and marketing rights had been sold; what revenue had been received by FIFA and Traffic for those rights; what liabilities are now outstanding as a result of this cancellation; what compensation is owed to FIFA by Traffic and what money is owed to the clubs who were due to participate?

16. What is the likely role of Traffic in the future marketing of this competition and what rights have been sold for the planned tournament in 2003?

17. What is the precise financial situation regarding the Confederations Cup 2001, including the monies being paid to the participating teams?

18. What TV and marketing rights have been sold; to whom and at what price and what is the likely total cost of staging this tournament?

19. Could you provide a detailed analysis of the FIFA Goal Project, including monies released, projects underway and completed and the precise relationship with the FIFA financial assistance project?

20. Could you provide details of the planned FIFA e-strategy, including the business plan for funding the project, given the Executive Committee’s opposition to the use of betting or gambling as a means of funding FIFA’s Internet activities?

21. Could you set out the current situation regarding the FIFA Operation Centre, including budget, the costs so far incurred in this project, the reasoning behind the changes in direction which have occurred this year and the future use of the existing FIFA premises?

22. Could you detail the role played by Flavio Battaini within FIFA, the reasons for his departure from the organisation, the level of compensation paid to him and explain any ongoing links he has with FIFA commercial matters?

23. Could you explain the procedures used to consider and approve proposals for the level of the earnings of the FIFA President and the appointment and salaries of Presidential advisors?

24. Could you comment on the apparent existence of the so-called F-group (Fuehrungsgruppe) within FIFA and specify its role, terms of reference and membership?

25. Could you provide a detailed organisational chart of the FIFA Administration, including a full list of Presidential advisors, their roles and functions (job descriptions) and their cost, as well as the new staffing structure within FIFA Marketing AG and its reporting relationships to the FIFA
Administration?

Questions obtained by Reuters