Blatter facing pressure at FIFA meeting

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is likely to come under sustained pressure when football’s governing body meets in Zurich on Thursday…

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is likely to come under sustained pressure when football’s governing body meets in Zurich on Thursday.

A financial crisis believed by some to be around £200 million sterling debt mark; claims of broken promises following an alleged "cash for votes" scandal when Blatter became president; and the critical state of the finances of German company Kirch, FIFA's marketing partner, will be under the microscope when FIFA's executive committee meets in Zurich.

The demands for Blatter to go will be reinforced by the claims of Selby Browne, chief executive officer of the Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Sports Television Network.

Browne alleges dirty deeds led to his company losing the Caribbean TV rights to the finals after FIFA's original marketing partner holder, ISL, went bust to the tune of £278 million.

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Following the collapse of ISL, the Caribbean rights went to the Caribbean Football Union, whose president is FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.

Browne is unhappy with the arrangement and the next stop is Zurich as he mounts his appeal to the FIFA executive members to review a controversy that could mean broadcasters in some Caribbean islands having to pay a second time to cover the World Cup finals.

If they refuse, as Trinidad and Tobago have as "a matter of principle", millions of viewers will be denied the chance to see the action from Japan and South Korea.