The finest Swiss cheese

*Too little, too late - We now learn Switzerland's sports minister had ordered an investigation into "corruption in sport" a month before the controversial World Cup hosting decisions.

"It is clear that Switzerland is obliged to do something," Ueli Maurer announced in response to the growing allegations of FIFA wrongdoings, which led to the suspension of two Ex.Co. members and a further four FIFA officials before the vote.

Around 50 international sporting organizations including the big three of FIFA, UEFA and the IOC enjoy the fresh Swiss air, exemption from anti-corruption laws and an understanding that the government will not interfere in their work. But don't hold your breath. Maurer said any changes could take "two or three years" and last year he described Sepp Blatter as "an outstanding representative of the nation and football."

*But all's well at FIFA, according to General Secretary Jerome Valcke:

"We haven't sat down to discuss reform of the voting system," he told the media yesterday. No surprise there. But what is this -

"Yes, it is a political decision," Valcke said of the World Cup hosting vote, "but overall I think reactions were positive. The decision was fairly well received by football fans." - Come again?

It would have been nice if FIFA had told the aspiring host nations before submission deadline in March 2009 that geo-political factors would matter most. And I haven't met many fans relishing the Qatari heat or the 1,500-mile trek between Kaliningrad and Ekaterinburg, free train tickets or no.

Valcke also swatted away questions about bent Ex.Co. members:

"The matter is closed," he said. "We reacted well to the situation...There is no need to be ashamed." Except that FIFA has yet to act on the allegations hanging over Grondona, Hayatou, Leoz, Texeira and Warner.

*Former FA chief Lord Triesman has called for an inquiry into the 2018/2022 decisions. Triesman resigned in May over kiss-and-tell allegations, which also revealed his belief in collusion between Spain and Russia, two football nations which did rather well in 2010...

*Russian bid member Vyacheslav Koloskov has told Moscow's Sport-Express that Vladimir Putin met with "at least a third" of the Ex.Co. and that these meetings were followed up "on a daily basis." This is in marked contrast to Putin claiming he did not attend the vote because he didn't wish to place any "external pressure" on the Ex.Co.'s "impartial" decision. "They must have an opportunity to work calmly, without any pressure from anyone," Putin had said.

*Australian bid strategist Peter Hargitay has told SBS television that he was approached after the voting had finished by two Ex.Co. members to confirm they indeed had backed the Aussies for 2012. Only thing was, Australia only got ONE vote.

Hargitay described the FIFA Ex.Co. animal thus -

"You are dealing with a very special type of person who will shake your hand, look you in the eye at five o'clock in the afternoon before the day of voting and say 'I'm with you'."

*N.Ireland's Jim Boyce, who is expected to join the Ex.Co. next year, is open to change - "It should be an open ballot where no-one has anything to hide. I would have no problems with people being made accountable for the decisions they have taken."

*Man U boss Alex Ferguson agrees loosening the FIFA Ex.Co.'s grip on the World Cup invoves climbing a Swiss mountain - "Do you know how difficult that is? It is a new word for FIFA - democracy."

Blatter is up for re-election in 2011 but I don't hold out much hope in potential replacements Mohammed Bin-Hamman or Chung Mong Joon. For now we'd better get ready for Russia and Qatar and hope for cleaner, fairer things for 2026.

Russia's winning bid videos:




Ex-Nats coach Bora stars in Qatar's presentation:



-Sean O'Conor