Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has warned fans to stay away from the upcoming World Cup in the United States (US) and Mexico starting in June.
This comes after Swiss anti-corruption lawyer Mark Pieth urged fans to boycott matches in the US due to domestic incidents involving immigration services.
Pieth was reacting specifically to the death earlier this month of US citizen Renee Good after a federal immigration officer shot and killed the unarmed mother who was acting as a legal observer of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Minneapolis.
Blatter took to X to share his views.
“For the fans, there’s only one piece of advice: stay away from the US! I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup,” he says.
By Tuesday, the post by Blatter had nearly 350k views.
Last week, Pieth said in an interview with Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger: “What we are seeing domestically – the marginalisation of political opponents, abuses by immigration services, etc. – hardly encourages fans to go there.”
“For fans, just one piece of advice: avoid the US! You’ll get a better view on television anyway. Upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t behave properly with the authorities, they will be immediately sent home. If they’re lucky …”
The last line seemed to suggest that Pieth believed fans could easily find themselves in physical danger for the slightest transgression at the World Cup.
Blatter served as Fifa president from 1998 to 2015 until he was involved in a corruption scandal and promptly resigned. Last year, however, Blatter and Uefa chief Michel Platini were acquitted in their linked corruption case.
– IOL News
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
