Saw this on swimnews today. Thought it pertinent to football. Helluvathing!
Havelange Goes Before The IOC Drop
http://www.swimnews.com/News/view/9092Craig Lord
Dec 5, 2011
The tales of corruption at the heart of the IOC, FIFA and in Olympic sports brushes the world of swimming today on the news that Joao Havelange, the former President of FIFA and an Olympic swimmer for Brazil in 1936 when Hitler was up in the stands, has resigned as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) just as expulsion threatens to follow inquiry.
The 95-year-old is the longest serving member of the organisation. He cited health reasons as he bid farewell to the IOC after 50 years, according to AP reports.
Havelange faced suspension over his part in a bribery scandal dating back to a time when he headed FIFA, a body that refused to investigate. The IOC stopped in and launched an inquiry after the BBC's Panorama programme, aided by the constant campaigning for truth by freelance journalists Jens Weinreich and Andrew Jennings, respectively German and British, exposed corruption related to ISL, the marketing agency used by the IOC, FIFA and several other Olympic federations, including FINA at one stage.
The IOC Ethics Commission began an inquiry into allegations that Havelange received $1 million from ISL, which owned World Cup television rights and collapsed with debts of $300 million in 2001.
A two-year suspension, or even possible expulsion, loomed for Havelange, a decision due on Thursday this week. IOC rules stipulate that ethics cases are dropped if members resign, a policy that to some appears to be another way of saying: you'll only get a stain on your character if you remain in the club but if you leave in time, we'll look the other way.
There are more embarrassing moments ahead. Havelange was praised by Carlos Nuzman, the President of Rio's successful 2016 Olympic bid, after he attracted applause with an invitation for IOC members to join him for his 100th birthday in Rio in May 2012. The party may now have a different set of names on the guest list.
Two other prominent IOC members, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Lamine Diack and Issa Hayatou, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), are also under investigation.
Ricardo Teixeira, Havelange's former son-in-law and head of Brazil's 2014 World Cup Organising Committee, was also identified by Panorama as having received payments. He is not an IOC member but the close connection will doubtless come under further scrutiny now.
Meanwhile, Sepp Blatter, current FIFA head, announced at the last FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich that the federation will reopen an investigation into ISL and transfer of funds.
