Brazil leader, soccer bosses back FIFA graft probe

Brazil's Football Confederation (CBF) and the country's president said Wednesday they backed a corruption probe into FIFA, as one of seven people detained, Jose Maria Marin, was sidelined as CBF number two.

Two FIFA vice presidents were among those arrested in a dawn raid in Zurich, where the body's president Sepp Blatter will stand for re-election Friday.

Former CBF head Jose Maria Marin, 83, who oversaw last year's World Cup in Brazil, was among those arrested.

Within hours, the CBF suspended him from his post as vice president indefinitely.

Marin, a former politician, is also a member of the organizing committee for next year's Rio Olympics.

While the CBF said it supported the investigation, it appeared to be distancing itself from Marin.

"The CBF has decided "to remove Mr Jose Maria Marin from his management position until the legal proceedings have concluded," CBF said in a statement.

- 'Institutions aren't above law' -

"I think all inquiries into this issue are very important. I think this can only benefit Brazil," said President Dilma Rousseff, on the sidelines of an official visit to Mexico.

"And I think if we do investigate, we have to investigate all cups, all activities," Rousseff said.

Brazil's minister of sport, George Hilton, said the government hoped the probe would "establish the truth" of the graft allegations and see those found guilty of wrongdoing "punished in accordance with the law."

Speaking in Rio, Hilton insisted there was no evidence of graft relating to last year's World Cup in Brazil under Marin's CBF stewardship.

"We are completely calm. The government supports the investigations, and above all we want clarity and for these investigations to bring solutions," Hilton said.

Asked if he had confidence in the CBF he said: "The government respects institutions -- but institutions are not above the law."

The CBF said it too backed the probe.

"Given the serious events of this morning in Zurich involving leaders and businessmen linked to football, the CBF declares publicly it fully supports each and any investigation," the Brazilian body said in a statement, underlining its commitment to "truth and transparency."

"The organization will await in a responsible manner its conclusion without prejudice," the CBF said.

Marco Polo Del Nero, who replaced Marin as CBF president last month, said the widening scandal looked "very bad" for FIFA, after US officials revealed an indictment alleging that 14 senior soccer officials and marketing executives had engaged in a $151 million 24-year bribery scheme.

"Logically, this is not good, it is very bad," Del Nero said at his Zurich hotel.

"But first we have to find out what happened, we have to analyze everything," he told reporters.

- 'Corrupt and thieves' -

Some said Wednesday's bad publicity for Latin America's beloved game not surprising.

Former Brazil star turned senator Romario, a vociferous critic of Marin, said: "Many of those who are corrupt and thieves who harm football have been detained."

"A thief has to go to jail. I congratulate the FBI and particularly the Swiss police for their actions," Romario told the senate's education, culture and sports commission.

Romario said he hoped the probe would stymie Blatter's hopes of re-election, and called for a "worthy" leader.

"I hope this will change something as there is the hope, at least for me, that Blatter may also be detained."
Source: AFP