Brazil leaders, soccer bosses back FIFA graft probe

The Brazilian Football Confederation and the country's president said Wednesday they backed a corruption probe into world body FIFA following the arrest of seven top officials, including the man who led the CBF until last month.

Two FIFA vice presidents were among those detained in a dawn raid in Zurich, where the body's president Sepp Blatter is expected to be re-elected Friday.

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

"I think all enquiries 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" relating to the sport, 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 as 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' -

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."

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

Romario said he hoped the probe would stymie Blatter's hopes of re-election.

"I hope this will change something as there is the hope, at least for me, that Blatter may also be detained," Romario said, calling for "worthy" leaders in football.

Marin, a former politician, remains a CBF vice-president and is a current member of the organizing committee for next year's Rio Olympics.
Source: AFP