VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association deflected criticism about FIFA President Sepp Blatter and secretary general Jerome Valcke not attending the Women’s World Cup final, saying the winning captain won’t care who hands over the championship trophy.
Leaders of both organizations reviewed the tournament on Friday, two days before the United States faces Japan in the championship match. While both organizations raved about the successes of the event, the absence of Blatter and Valcke because of the FIFA corruption investigation continued to linger.
Tatjana Haenni, FIFA’s head of women’s football, said no final decision has been made on who will present the championship trophy to the winning captain on Sunday.
Victor Montagliani, president of the CSA, says with all going on in FIFA the focus should be on the final two games of the tournament and “not the suits.”