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'FIFA and Sepp Blatter cannot continue' says Folkestone and Hythe MP Damian Collins on BBC's Newsnight with David Ginola

By: Matt Leclere mleclere@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 10:00, 28 May 2015

A Kent MP says the latest corruption allegations against FIFA means it is "the end" for football's world governing body.

Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, has been a long-standing critic of the way FIFA has administered the professional game around the world.

He appeared on BBC's Newsnight last night alongside ex-player David Ginola and said president Sepp Blatter "has to go".

Mr Collins alongside former French footballer and ex-FIFA presidential candidate David Ginola. Picture: Newsnight/BBC iPlayer

It followed the FBI and Swiss authorities arresting 14 senior FIFA officials in Zurich yesterday morning ahead of FIFA's annual congress in the city this week.

The 14 have been charged by US authorities accused of racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

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Speaking on Newsnight Mr Collins said: "He [Blatter] has to go, there’s no question.

"There can be no credibility and I think the crisis is so big now if he fails to step away, if there fails to be new independent leadership, if they fail to rerun the hosting for these World Cup competitions this is the end of FIFA unless they can confront it in this way.

“There has to be a wholesale reform. Then creating a new FIFA and new timetable for presidential elections and that has to start with Sepp Blatter going.

Damian Collins MP said the allegations spelled "the end of FIFA". Picture: Newsnight/BBC iPlayer

“If he won’t go willingly the people who represent football associations around the world and I think the sponsors need to speak now and say we won’t support with Blatter there in the future."

The claims surround alleged $150 million of payments including tournament bribes over the last 20 years which have thrown into doubt the integrity of the selection of Russia and Qatar as the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively.

Mr Collins added: “I think the process should be rerun to find a host whether that’s England or anywhere else it’s got to be a country that’s got the infrastructure.

“In 2010 when the votes were cast, only 22 people voted and seven have left due to corruption allegations. One of those people Chuck Blazer has pleaded guilty to 10 counts of corrupt practice. How could we have any confidence this was anything other than a corrupt process?

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“There are countries around the world that could host it. It may well be Russia and Qatar should be part of a rerun but what there would have to be is a proper rerun.

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He added "leading football nations like England have to be prepared to walk away" from FIFA if there isn't the structural reform to root out the alleged corruption.

“It’s fallen to government agencies not football to sort this problem and that’s because FIFA protects itself and doesn’t find out the truth.”

In response to a question from host Kirsty Wark over whether the British government should be involved Mr Collins replied: “I last year contacted the Serious Fraud Office on a series of occasions.

"As some of this clearly falls within their jurisdiction, I would hope they are fully cooperating with the FBI and Swiss authorities using their power to support their investigations."

View the full interview here.

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