FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter said, “the autonomy of sport is essential in order to preserve the integrity of all competitions and the values of solidarity and democracy within the sporting world. We must avoid the interference of external influences which often have interests other than the purely sporting ones, whether economic, political or countless others”.
“But we must also note that this autonomy brings with it the obligation for good governance by the sporting authorities, promoting transparency and open-mindedness. In order to find the best solutions, we need dialogue and cooperation with all the parties involved, especially with governmental authorities, always respecting the mutual competences of each entity,” he added.
