Zurich - Key points from FIFA president Sepp Blatter's opening address to the 65th Congress in Zurich on Thursday:
-- These are unprecedented and difficult times for FIFA.
The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football and over this week's congress.
Actions of individuals bring shame and humiliation on football and demand action and change from us all.
We cannot allow the reputation of football and FIFA to be dragged through the mud any longer -- it has to stop here and now.
-- I know many people hold me ultimately responsible for actions and reputation of the global football community, whether it's a decision for the hosting of a World Cup or a corruption scandal.
But I cannot monitor everyone all of the time.
-- If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it, but it must ultimately fall to me to bear the responsibility for the reputation and well-being of our organisation and to ultimately find a way to move forward and fix things.
-- I will not allow the actions of a few to destroy the hard work of those in football.
We will co-operate to make sure anyone who is involved in wrongdoing, from top to bottom, will be discovered and punished.
There can be no place for corruption.
-- The next few months will not be easy for FIFA and I am sure more bad news will follow, but it is necessary to begin to restore the trust in our organisation.
Let this be the turning point.
AFP
