ZURICH: On May 21, 2001, FIFA’s long-time marketing partner, ISL, was declared bankrupt. Almost 12 years later an end to the scandal remains elusive writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

FIFA’s American investigator/prosecutor Michael Garcia had issued a statement last month that he would present his report to this week’s meeting of the executive committee.

Since it appeared that he was not passing the file up to ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, that suggested Garcia was not recommending any action against any of those known to have been received illicit payments (Joao Havelange, Ricardo Teixeira, Issa Hayatou, Nicolas Leoz and maybe more).

However, when the issue came up during this week’s exco – so FIFA president Sepp Blatter reported afterwards – it was merely to state that Garcia, after all, had passed the 4,000-page report on to Eckert who would not be ready to pass judgment until next month.

Blatter suggested April 15 as a possible latest date but, given that it has taken 12 uncertain years to reach this point, that may also be taken as an estimation.

Congress on May 30 and 31 in Mauritius– at the very least – may be asked to revoke the honorary presidency conferred upon Havelange when the veteran Brazilian administrator retired after 24 years at the head of the world football federation in 1998.

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