FIFA arrests: Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray call for change at the top

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 8 years ago

FIFA arrests: Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray call for change at the top

Tennis superstars Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray waded into the great soccer corruption scandal on Thursday, suggesting the game would be better served without FIFA chief Sepp Blatter's iron grip on power.

Nadal, who is the nephew of former Spanish international Miguel Angel Nadal, believes that for Blatter to have been FIFA president since 1998 breeds an unhealthy environment in the sport.

Spain's Rafael Nadal has backed the call for change at FIFA.

Spain's Rafael Nadal has backed the call for change at FIFA.Credit: PATRICK KOVARIK

"My thought is it is good to have combinations, in politics, in sport, in the world in general," said Nadal at the French Open.

"I cannot say that if you are in the same place for a long time you will not be honest, but it's true that history says that is easier to be honest if you are in shorter periods of time."

Blatter faces a re-election vote at the FIFA Congress in Zurich on Friday, having insisted on Thursday that would not resign despite growing calls for him to do so.

Britain's third seed Murray echoed Nadal's words, saying that the corruption charges aimed at FIFA officials this week had not been totally unexpected.

"I don't know what's going to happen over the next few days. But when I read the stories, I haven't had anyone come up to me and say it was very surprising.

"People have suggested that there was some corruption going on there. So now they are going to do a proper investigation into it and see what happens after that."

AFP

Most Viewed in Sport

Loading