Two men who launched challenges to Sepp Blatter for the
leadership of world soccer body FIFA have been targeted in an attempted
blackmail scam, a report says.
Prince Ali bin al Hussein and Michael van Praag, who has now
pulled out of the race, were both approached by Kenya-based conmen who said
Blatter had gathered sensitive information about them.
Singapore's The New Paper and Dutch daily De Volkskrant said
the men demanded money to hand over the information from what they claimed was
a smear campaign orchestrated by Blatter.
According to The New Paper, Jordan's Prince Ali, who is now
Blatter's sole challenger in next week's FIFA vote, and van Praag both confirmed
approaches.
"We have had a number of individuals coming forward
with similar allegations," a spokesman for Prince Ali was quoted as
saying.
"Our approach has been to try and set up meetings with
these individuals so we can assess them and the information they are giving for
ourselves."
The conmen said the director of an India-based security
company put together a surveillance report on Prince Ali for submission to
Blatter's daughter, Corinne.
But when contacted by The New Paper, both the investigator
and Corinne Blatter denied all knowledge and said they had been set up.
"I do not know who is behind it but it is clearly
intended to damage my father's reputation," Corinne Blatter was quoted as saying.
According to the report, the approaches by email appeared
genuine but details such as the investigator's phone number and email address
were wrong.
"I have no idea who would want to set me up, especially
on such an elaborate scam as this," the investigator, who was not named,
told The New Paper.
"I have never worked for Ms Corinne Blatter in any
way."
Van Praag received an email which stated: "Some time in
late August 2014, Sepp commissioned some espionage work on you fearing you
might stand against him in future."
The Dutch FA chief said: "What do you think it would
mean for my image if I were to respond to those e-mails?
"If it is true that they are working on a case against
me,then so be it. I have nothing to hide."
Van Praag and Portuguese great Luis Figo withdrew from the
FIFA race on Thursday, leaving Prince Ali as the only man standing between
Blatter and a fifth term as president on May 29.
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