Sepp Blatter: I'm Not To Blame For FIFA Corruption, Bribery Scandal (Video)

Responsibility and accountability ultimately lies at the top in most organizations. Sepp Blatter’s FIFA apparently isn’t one of them.

Blatter blamed FIFA’s corruption and bribery scandal on a “tiny minority” of individuals Thursday, according to FIFA.com. Blatter, FIFA’s president, used his opening address at world soccer’s governing body’s annual congress in Zurich to deflect blame from himself and pin it on rogue actors, who he said brought shame and humiliation to the global game.

Watch Blatter’s remarks on the bribery scandal starting at the 24-minute mark.

“These are unprecedented and difficult times for FIFA,” Blatter said. “The events of yesterday have cast a long shadow over football and over this week’s Congress. The actions of these individuals, if proven, 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.

“I know many people hold me ultimately responsible for the actions and reputation of the global football community -– whether it is a decision for the hosting of the World Cup or a corruption scandal. We cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it.

“But it must fall to me to bear the responsibility for the reputation and well-being of our organisation and to find a way forward to fix things. I will not allow the actions of a few to destroy the hard work and integrity of the vast majority of those who work so hard for football.

“I must stress that those who are corrupt in football are in a tiny minority, like in society. But, like society, they must be caught and held responsible for their actions. Football cannot be the exception to the rule.”

Read the full text of Blatter’s speech >>

Blatter was making his first public appearance since news of the arrests of high-ranking soccer officials and sports marketing executives broke Wednesday. The scandal shocked the soccer world and plunged FIFA into crisis two days before its presidential election and less than two weeks before the start of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.