Lennart Johansson (R) and UEFA President Michel Platini STOCKHOLM: Former UEFA president Lennart Johansson, who stood against Sepp Blatter in the 1998 FIFA presidential election, has told Swedish television that a close associate had seen “brown envelopes” handed to delegates. Blatter, 75, was re-elected as president of the world governing body for a further four-year term Wednesday against a background of corruption scandals. Johansson, 81, who headed the European governing body for 17 years, made his comments in an interview in a news program on the Swedish national broadcaster SVT. “He came to me, someone who was close to me, that I cooperated with for several years previously, who had seen how brown envelopes were given from one to the other,” he said. “The interpretation was that it was to get them to vote for Blatter. No proof was forthcoming so I decided not to refer to it, because that could put me in an equally bad position, just by believing rumors and making accusations that weren't proved.” Johansson also said that Blatter's plan to allow the FIFA congress to decide which notions would host future World Cups was effectively a vote of no confidence in the FIFA executive committee. “I think he's disapproving his own executive committee, his nearest (colleagues),” he said. “It's they who, before they make any decision, have to make sure that they have all the details, on finances, on security, on communications, on hotels, on everything and have a clear picture of who the best candidates are.” ‘Kissinger to help FIFA' Newly re-elected FIFA President Sepp Blatter is turning to former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to help investigate problems within world football's governing body. Blatter says the 88-year-old Kissinger has agreed to be on a “committee of wise persons” to advise FIFA's new corporate governance and compliance body. Kissinger's spokeswoman, Jessee LaPorin, confirmed that Kissinger agreed to participate. She said Kissinger has not yet received a formal request, but did receive an exploratory letter from Blatter. Kissinger, who was secretary of state from 1973 to 1977 under presidents Nixon and Ford, is an ardent football fan and worked on the failed US bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Blatter won a fourth four-year term as head of FIFA, football's governing body, by receiving 186 out of 203 votes in an election during the congress in which his was the only name on the ballot.
