FIFA defends its control of world soccer

AP - FIFA has defended its role as the guardian of world soccer and rejected calls to share control of the sport.

"Despite the indisputable respect that the world of football must show national legislation, it must be extremely vigilant with regard to attempts by governments - as well as supranational government organizations - to control the most popular sport on earth," FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in a statement.

FIFA, world soccer's governing body, has been in a long dispute with the European Union. Brussels has said it would like to set new rules for corporate governance in soccer, impose tougher rules on players' agents and perhaps set a salary cap.

Blatter said the attempt to interfere in soccer matters was "a trend which has become increasingly evident in recent years, especially in Europe."

An EU-backed report released in May said that financial scandals, corruption and racism had left European soccer in a dire state and called on the "direct involvement of political leaders" to put the continent's favorite sport back on track.

The report called for stricter corporate governance in the wake of betting and match-fixing scandals in Germany and Italy as well as financial difficulties that affect clubs across Europe. It also recommended that a rule on homegrown players should be reintroduced and said clubs must continue to release players to national teams without compensation.

UEFA, European soccer's governing body, cooperated closely with the report. Concrete proposals based on the report are expected by the end of the year.

For years, FIFA has been involved in a feud with the G14 group of the richest European clubs. Blatter has described soccer as in danger of being destroyed by wealthy club owners who pour "pornographic amounts of money" into the game.

FIFA said Wednesday it also was concerned by other situations of government interference in soccer in Algeria, Cambodia, Iran, Nigeria, Poland and Portugal. A dispute with Greece has been resolved, it said.

FIFA said national associations have recommended that Kenya's soccer federation be suspended "for failing to respect agreements that had been signed and for recurrent problems in the association, in particular the integrity of national competitions."