Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/523863
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 JUNE 2015 15 outgunned on the global stage. "UEFA is a minority in FIFA, and cannot exert any pressure other than express itself through its representatives on the FIFA ex- ecutive committee… who are also outnumbered by members of the other confederations. Following the resignation of Blatter and the arrest of the other high ranking FIFA officials, including two FIFA vice-presidents, I would expect the footballing world to look to UEFA and its leaders to initiate and lead the long road towards reform." One possible problem concerns Blatter's resignation itself. Al- though the former FIFA president has officially stepped down, he will only fully vacate the post when his resignation is formally accepted by an extraordinary congress which has yet to be organised. "I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA president un- til that election," Blatter wrote in his resignation letter last Tuesday. Darmanin Demajo reasons that this will create unnecessary delays in the reform process. "Unfortunately, true reform can- not begin until Blatter actually steps down, and it seems that Blat- ter has decided to drag this on for another six to nine months… i.e. until an extraordinary congress is called to elect a successor. Blatter should just go, and go now. There can be no reform with Blatter still at the helm. What he could not accomplish in 17 years cannot be done in six months. We are simply wasting more time..." Meanwhile, it seems that the indictment of FIFA officials spe- cifically over corruption charges in the selection of world cup host countries may not have any ef- fect on the next two World Cups. Some have argued that the bid- ding process for the host coun- tries in 2018 and 2022 should be reopened, given that the selection process was so seriously vitiated. Does Darmanin Demajo agree? Or should 'the show go on', even if both world cups are pre-emptively mired in corruption and scandal? "As far as I am aware, despite various allegations there is no ac- tual proof that the awarding of the World Cups to Russia in 2018, and Qatar in 2022, were awarded as a result of corruption. So I would not like to comment on this at this point. This is also a complicated le- gal issue that involves a number of factors. However, recent develop- ments have shown that the whole FIFA organisation is tumbling down like a house of cards, with new revelations and declarations emerging every day. They say that it's not over till the fat lady sings… and this one big FIFA lady still has a lot of singing to do!" Interview Football's governing body has been plunged into scandal, but MFA president NORMAN DARMANIN DEMAJO argues that we've only scratched the surface so far hasn't sung yet THE TRUTH I believe that before we move forward, the footballing world needs to know the truth. No more lies, no more cover ups. The cleansing process has to be complete PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD