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Hala Gorani Tonight
Arrests, Investigations Target Top FIFA Officials; Iraqi Forces Gaining Ground Against ISIS; 13 People Still Missing after Severe Storms in Texas; Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, Quitting as the International Envoy for Peace in the Middle East; Blog of an ISIS Bride Lures Women into World of ISIS; Ireland Voted Overwhelmingly in Favor of Gay Marriage; Data Breach at U.S. IRS Allowed Criminals in Russia to Steal More Than A Hundred Thousand Tax Returns
Aired May 27, 2015 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:03:31] HALA GORANI, HOST: Welcome everybody this is the World Right Now. I'm Hala Gorani, and we're going to have all the days' top stories of
course. And we start with the big news of the day.
Misconduct has no place in football. That statement tonight from FIFA President, Sepp Blatter after a day in which football's global governing
body came under fire.
FIFA officials are now facing indictments and investigations alleging rampant corruption.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Here you see one of seven people being arrested in Switzerland as part of an American indictment. U.S. authorities charge 14 people including FIFA
officials with racketeering and wire fraud.
FIFA has now provisionally banned 11 of those corruption suspects. That is one investigation. Quite separately there is another one where both
parties are cooperating and questions being asked about how Qatar and Russia were awarded the world cup. Switzerland has opened its own criminal
investigation.
Wrapping the days' news, here's CNN's Alex Thomas, in Zurich.
ALEX THOMAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A rude awakening for FIFA and quite literally for the seven officials from world football's governing
body forced to rise from their beds at this Zurich hotel after an early morning raid by Swiss police.
Later, in Miami, Florida U.S. federal investigators enter the offices of Concacaf, the part of FIFA that runs the sport in Central and North America
and the Caribbean. Football has never seen anything like this. Two separate criminal investigations targeting officials at the highest level
of the sport. Although FIFA president, Sepp Blatter is not one of those indicted.
[15:05:07] JEFFREY WEBB: This really is the world cup of fraud and today we're issuing FIFA a red card.
THOMAS: The U.S. Department of Justice news conference was particularly damning. Detailing allegations of fraud, racketeering and money laundering
that sounded like a mafia movie script. It was claimed that bribes helped secure the first ever World Cup held in Africa. Among those arrested in
Zurich, Concacaf President, Jeffrey Webb, touted as a potential future FIFA president. World football's governing body tried to put on a brave face.
WALTER DE GREGORIO: This for FIFA is good. It's not good in terms of image and it's not good in terms of our reputation but in terms of cleaning
up, in terms of everything what we did in the last four years. In terms of the (inaudible) process, this is good.
THOMAS: On an astonishing day perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of all is the timing of the raids coming 48 hours before more than 200 global
football bosses vote in the FIFA presidential election.
At the age of 79 Sepp Blatter's still the overwhelming favorite to retain his post. Although with U.S. justice officials promising to continue their
investigations, his fifth term in office could be even more scandal ridden than the previous four.
Alex Thomas, CNN, Zurich.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Let's cross from Zurich to Switzerland, senior international correspondent, Rick Robertson is standing by for us.
First of all we're starting to hear from FIFA and there's a big vote for the FIFA presidency is expected to go ahead. Tell us more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT. It is expected to go ahead and that's despite calls from the European football organization
UAFA saying that they think that the congress and the vote this week should be postponed. They said it should be postponed for six months until these
current matters can be cleared up. But we've also heard now from Sepp Blatter himself saying that while the developments are unfortunate, he says
we welcome them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
He said that it was - you know it should be pointed out that it was FIFA itself who handed a dossier to the Swiss authorities in November last year
that set the Swiss on the current track of investigation that they're pursuing right now.
This is some of what he had to say. "As unfortunate as these events are, it should be clear that we welcome the actions and the investigations by
the U.S. and Swiss authorities and believe that it will help to reinforce measures that FIFA had already taken to root out any wrongdoing in
football. Let me be clear such misconduct has no place in football and we will ensure that those who engage in it are put out of the game."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
And he goes on in his statement to say that the ethics - the Independent Ethics Committee has now put a ban on the - on the 11 people who've already
been listed and named. He said that that will stay in place. It is - it is a ban potentially of a temporary measure but it's already been put in
place. So what we're hearing from Sepp Blatter is he's essentially saying that we are continuing the course, that we're in the right, that we wanted
this investigation. We've also heard from Jack Warner, one of the people listed by U.S. authorities a former president himself of Concacaf. He in
his statement has denied also wrongdoing and he says that you should be judged in court.
This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK WARNER: The allegations have been here for (inaudible) right, and they are (inaudible) allegations. (Inaudible) approval (inaudible) true or
false. (Inaudible) allegations and I say again my lawyers have advised me to (inaudible) I want to say much more. Allegations are allegations.
Although obviously it does seem strange that the U,.S. could have made this announcement two days before (inaudible) and anyone would have to be naive
to believe - not to believe that they have something to do with it. I don't want to say much more than that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now Warner himself became a FIFA executive back in 1983, he retired under a cloud in 2011, an investigation that he decided to retire
from and was seen at that time or it was read at that time that without the internal investigation of FIFA going ahead that therefore no wrongdoing
could be assumed to have happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
But now we are hearing - will hear a whole lot more about what these men are alleged to have been involved in, Hala.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, Nick Robertson is live in Zurich with the very latest there on these two investigations into alleged wrongdoing at FIFA.
Now FIFA isn't just a governing body. It's also a huge money maker.
[15:10:00] It's a multibillion dollar entity with big sponsorship deals that could be called into question with these latest arrests and
investigations.
Let's get more on how much money is involved. CNN Business Correspondent, Samuel Burke, is with me here in the studio.
Let's talk about revenue streams, sponsorship, marketing deals, the world cup you're naming billions of dollars.
SAMUEL BURKE,CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hala when you look at the massive amount of money coming in and out of FIFA you start to think that even
though that F stands for Federation it looks more like a corporation. So let me just show you revenue for example for the past four years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
They do - they report 2011 to 2014 because of course they go by the world cup and their cycle. So as you see on your screen right there, 5.7 billion
dollars in revenue; profit of just 338 million. You're probably asking what's the difference. Well Sepp Blatter and his - and his executives take
a lot of that money and give it to regional associations, countries, soccer associations and that part - and that's part of how they've been able to
wield and maintain power of course.
And then you look at the revenue here and this is what's really important here. You see 43% from T.V. rights, 29% of marketing and the reason why
this is so important remember what the U.S. is alleging is that sports marketing executives gave bribes and kickbacks to get the rights to the
television and marketing rights across the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: You know and those are exclusive rights of course if you have world cup broadcast rights, no other networks can air it and it's a huge
income maker.
Let's talk about sponsors though. Have we heard from any of those FIFA sponsors?
BURKE: Well it's quite interesting 'cause a lot of these sponsors are the same people, the same groups that often kick athletes to the curb when they
have their own personal or professional scandal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
So I just want to show you a list of the top sponsors for FIFA. It's companies for example you see here, VISA, Adidas, Hyundai. Well when it
comes down to it Hyundai says no comments at this time, VISA pretty much say the same thing. Coca-Cola and Gascom pretty much had nothing to say.
But McDonalds has had the strongest language so far. In a statement from a spokesperson, McDonald's said the following "McDonald's takes matters of
ethics and corruption very seriously and the news from the U.S. Department of Justice is extremely concerning. We are in contact with FIFA on this
matter. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURKE: But of course one of the ones I mentioned, Adidas for example it says well they're looking into it they want - they want FIFA to have the
highest ethical standards possible. Keep in mind you know they got rid of a contract very quickly with Tyson Gay for example. He's that American
sprinter and when he failed a drug test, right away they suspended that contract. So it will be interesting to see what they do with a big
organization like FIFA versus what they did with an individual athlete.
GORANI: It will be interesting to see although I think in the case of the governing body it's not a single individual case of wrongdoing.
BURKE: That's true.
GORANI: And the revenue stream is so important it might be more difficult to cut that tie.
BURKE: Adidas sold more than $2 billion in soccer memorabilia and what not in 2014 alone. So it's huge money on the line.
GORANI: Big money. Thanks very much Samuel Burke, we'll catch up with you later. And coming up by the way I speak to former star, French star
football player, David Ginola. He previously bid for the FIFA presidency himself and he tells me why he thinks FIFA's presidential election set for
this Friday based on everything that's happened, should, be postponed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID GINOLA: Because I think it's very important when you have such an investigation towards some of the key people at FIFA, Sepp Blatter should
say well in (senior) we don't have the full reports, we need to postpone that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right. He's not the only one calling for a delay in that vote. We'll see if he gets his way like he will or his wish. My full
interview with David Ginola is still to come on The World Right Now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
A lot more after the break, Iraqi forces are gaining ground against ISIS seizing territory on the outskirts of Ramadi. We'll get an update. Will
they be successful in their major offensive to re-take this city? We'll be right back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[15:14:08]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:16:21]
GORANI: Joint Iraqi forces are now on the southern edge of Ramadi preparing to take on ISIS inside the city itself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
The Iraqi defense ministry released this video showing that forces - its forces are advancing in Anbar province wanting to show that there is an
operation, that its active to try to retake Ramadi. ISIS tried to slow them down with suicide bombings that ended up killing 30 soldiers.
Government troops backed by Shia and Sunni militia men managed to fight their way to the outskirts of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar recapturing a
university from ISIS.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Iraqi forces are also advancing on Baiji in the North home to the country's largest oil refinery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
That refinery has been heavily contested for months. ISIS now controls the majority of it. Our Nick Paton Walsh traveled to the area today. He is
now back in Baghdad.
What did you see in Baiji around the oil refinery there Nick?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Hala a mixed picture is to how much of it is actually held by ISIS. Some suggestions
are actually there now in a small area. The question I think Iraqi security forces are struggling with is how do you push quite such a
nihilistic group as ISIS out of the place which they've already rigged they say with booby traps which contains obviously thousands of gallons of high
octane petroleum that could cause a major ecological catastrophe there.
It was quite a remarkable scene though. You can already see some of the damage done, the black smoke on the horizon there and it was a drive really
through a series of towns that Iraqi security forces had to push ISIS back out of as well to the north of Tikrit. As we were there Hala, one of the
groups we were with, the golden division, some of the members of that were in Ramadi and are part of the troops who the U.S. said lack "the will to
fight to defend the city" but they were quite clear to show us that they do have the will to fight opening fire on what they said were ISIS positions
there. Not far at all from where they'd been standing., In fact they pointed out how there'd been a sandstorm the day before which allowed ISIS
to come within 20 meters of their position and then open fire once it subsided.
A heavily contested area still that obstacle of quite how do you clear a group like ISIS out from such an extraordinarily dangerous and complex
place as an oil refinery that's slowing down the progress there. We saw delivery of ammunition by Iraqi security forces to the Shia armed group
(inaudible) but that's key refinery to the north of the supply route which so much of this campaign now for Anbar is focused Hala.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right we'll continue to follow the battle for many strategic areas of Anbar with you Nick Paton Walsh and our team on the ground. Thank
you.
Now May and June are India's hottest months but this year temperatures have soared to 48 degree Celsius, sometimes over 50 and the death toll is
continuing to climb. It's so hot in South Eastern India that the roads are literally melting.
For many Indian laborers who work outside staying indoors just isn't a viable option and that's all dangers. Mallika Kapur reports from Nalgonda,
South India.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALLIKA KAPUR: It's 42 degrees Celsius, 107 Fahrenheit. Life in the Southern Indian city of Khizrabad carries on a tad slower under the blazing
sun.
We've spotted several water cans springing up all over the city of Hyderabad.
[15:20:03] Small ones like this one and this lady (inaudible) that it's been so hot here that people come to the stall every couple of minutes to
stay hydrated and to cool down.
The local government is advising people to protect themselves issuing a list of dos and don'ts including don't go out.
(B.R. MEENA): It's basically you know nine o'clock to four o'clock. (Inaudible) refuse umbrella they must use hat or turban and this will keep
them (inaudible) cool (inaudible).
KAPUR: But that's not always possible even in one of India's biggest and most modern cities. The two states that jointly call Hyderabad their
capital are reeling from the intense heat wave that has claimed more than 1400 lives.
We travelled just outside Hyderabad to Nalgonda. Meena says more than 70 people have died from the heat here. One of them 38 year old (inaudible).
His father, (Malaya Badulla) says his son had gone out to get medicines. He was on his way home and collapsed. He never recovered from the
sunstroke.
He says the entire village is suffering. (Malaya) is 76 years old. He says he's never experienced
A heat wave like this before.
It's the middle of the afternoon and it's really hot. Temperatures are soaring and there's this thick hot wind blowing. It feels like I'm walking
into a furnace.
Air conditions are out of reach of many homes in this village but they do have fans. The problem is they barely work for three to four hours a day
because of power cuts. In this blazing heat residents seize every little opportunity to cool off.
Hot and frustrated villages get together to pray for better days ahead. They say they're asking for help, for peace, and most importantly for the
rains to come quickly.
Mallika Kapur, CNN, Nalgonda District, India.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Coming up a lavish ceremony and some concrete proposals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
We'll analyze the queen's speech at the opening of the U.K. Parliament.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well there you can see that major industries across the region were up. It is the most colorful event in the British parliamentary
calendar. Queen Elizabeth delivered her annual speech that outlines the governments' proposals for the coming year. Crucially it included plans
for a referendum on whether or not Britain should remain or exit the European Union.
Max Foster has that story.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A ceremony dating back to the 1300s and dripping in tradition and ritual. Before the queen's arrival at
the Palace of Westminster the yeoman of the guard searched the sellers to prevent a terror plot like the one near miss that was masterminded by Guy
Fawkes more than 400 years ago.
[15:25:05] It's the job of this man, Black Rod to summon the House of Commons to hear the Queen's speech. The doors slammed unceremoniously in
his face to symbolize the independence of the chamber.
He doesn't give up though and after three knocks is allowed in before the members of parliament make their way to the House of Lords.
The Queen balancing the priceless imperial state crown on her head. No mean feat in itself. But the real challenge for the monarch is delivering
the speech in a way that gives away so little expression that you can't tell her view on any of the policies.
It's her job to stay above politics. This speech may be written by her government but she has no say in it and this was the headline.
QUEEN ELIZABETH: My government will re-negotiate the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union and pursue reform of the European
Union for the benefit of all member states. Alongside this early legislation will be introduced to provide for an in/out referendum on
membership of the European Union before the end of 2017.
FOSTER: Think of this speech as a wish list for the government. The laws it wants to get through and top of that list is giving Brits the choice of
staying within the European Union; a referendum before 2018.
Then there was Scotland.
QUEEN ELIZABETH: My government will also bring forward legislation to secure a strong and lasting constitutional settlement divulging wide
ranging powers to Scotland and Wales.
FOSTER: In the election the people of Scotland voted overwhelmingly for the Scottish national party which wants independence. So Cameron offered a
compromise which was more (divulged) powers but crucially he offered the same to Wales and to the English regions.
The Conservatives may have won a rare majority in the recent election, but it's a slim one and where the parties split Cameron needs to compromise.
He'll be tested on all this when the Sovereign delivers her next Queen's speech. She'll be in her 90s and then Britain's longest serving monarch.
She knows the (form).
Max Foster, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Coming up next FIFA's reputation is in tatters so where do things go from here?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Former footballer David Ginola was a FIFA presidency candidate weighs in. Also an alluring story of utopia. A bloggers description of life under
ISIS maybe completely fabricated but the danger that some young women may believe it is very real is certainly a concern.
We'll be right back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[15:27:54]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:30:20]
HALA GORANI, CNN HOST: Welcome back. Here's what's happening in THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, and our top story at this hour - FIFA President Sepp Blatter
says there is no place for misconduct in football. Blatter's comments came after American authorities indicted 14 people, including numerous high-
level FIFA officials on corruption charges. Blatter himself was not among them.
Also among the top stories - Iraqi forces are gaining ground against ISIS advancing on the southern edge of Ramadi. Government troops backed by Shia
and Sunni militia men are pressing ahead with what they are calling a major offensive. They recaptured a university on Ramadi's outskirts today.
Thirteen people are still missing after severe storms in the U.S. state of Texas. The city of Houston got more rain today, and even more is in the
forecast. The storm system has killed more than 30 people in Texas, Oklahoma, and northern Mexico. Engineers now say that a dam that
authorities have feared would fail southwest of Dallas, Texas, will thankfully hold.
The former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is quitting as the international envoy for peace in the Middle East. He has worked in the
(INAUDIBLE) for eight years. He says he will remain involved in the peace process in an informal way. But Mr. Blair also believes a new approach is
needed in the region.
More now on our top story. The international arrests and investigations into alleged - alleged corruption within FIFA. President Sepp Blatter is
not among those arrested. He was - he has welcomed, he says, the investigation and says quote, "Such misconduct has no place in football."
Blatter is no stranger to controversy. But he has managed to survive it for almost two decades. Phil Black looks (INAUDIBLE).
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mon'Amie, Ciao.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sepp Blatter is often described as the sporting world's most powerful man. He's ruled soccer's world governing
body for 17 years, and he's guided that organization to enormous financial success. Between 2011 and 14, its total revenue - $5.7 billion. Its
declared cash reserves - $1.5 billion. But while money has flooded in, rumors and reports of corruption have flourished. Blatter hasn't been
linked directly to any wrongdoing, and his grip on FIFA has stayed strong, and he's promised to clean up the organization.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) so I would like to have this (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: Blatter's commitment to rooting out corruption has been tested in recent years. Persistent reports of dodgy dealings in awarding Qatar and
Russia, the next two World Cups, led to an internal investigation. After receiving a roughly 500-page report, it declared no major wrongdoings
discovered. The matter was closed, and the full report won't be published for some time.
The reports also (INAUDIBLE) U.S. Attorney, Michael Garcia, was furious. He accused FIFA of misrepresenting his work and later resigned. Now Swiss
authorities say they're looking into the allegations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, while American investigators are examining alleged bribes and
kickbacks to secure media, marketing and sponsorship rights. FIFA's response - this is painful but necessary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For us, it's a hard time. It's not nice to be here in front of you. I'd like to explain something that is not nice but, at the
same time, and I can (INAUDIBLE) for us - for FIFA this is good - this is good it happens. It confirms that we're on the right track. It hurts.
It's not easy, but it's the only way to go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: FIFAs right track now includes international criminal investigations. Critics say it's further proof the organization's efforts
under Blatter's leadership to clean its own house have failed.
Phil Black, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Earlier I spoke to former French international football player, David Ginola. He previously bid for the FIFA presidency himself, and he
has strong opinions about what's going on there. I began by asking him why he thinks FIFA's presidential elections set for this Friday should be
delayed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID GINOLA, FORMER FIFA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND FORMER FRENCH INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER: I think, first of all, the election should
be postponed, because I think it's very important when you have such an investigation towards some of its key people at FIFA. Sepp Blatter should
say, well, seeing as we don't have the full report, we need to postpone that.
[15:35:07] This is very important.
GORANI: But they're going ahead with it.
GINOLA: Yes, I know. Why? Because it's not the people who actually are voting - they're not voting for the president of FIFA. It's the people
amongst FIFA who are voting for the next president. So, that's probably why I see a problem in that.
GORANI: But you yourself say it's not a democracy, it's not transparent enough, we need a new ers in football (ph). You are saying that, but you
are not ready to say that Sepp Blatter should step down. You're saying we need to wait until (INAUDIBLE)...
GINOLA: I think we need to see something completely new - going back to the fundamentals of the game. How you're gonna rule the world of football
in the next two or three generations, I think, is our concern - why I decided to stand for the presidency of FIFA is because mainly I wanted
restore the confidence - something we don't really see for years.
GORANI: You don't think Sepp Blatter is someone who's doing that?
GINOLA: Not enough. When you organize World Cup around the world, the less you can do is to pay tax (ph) in those - in those countries.
(INAUDIBLE) for example, restoring democracy amongst FIFA - showing the people that you are willing to - to deal with different issues and matters
in the public eyes. I mean, journalists and people being part of all the - the debates you can have.
GORANI: Do you think they're not being transparent - they're not letting people in on their (INAUDIBLE)?
GINOLA: There's no transparency at FIFA. That's why we are having this conversation.
GORANI: There's two investigations here - not just the one regarding potential corruption among some executives within FIFA - but also in the
awarding of the World's Cup to two countries - Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. Do you think that that potentially, if there is wrongdoing proved
here, that should reallocated?
GINOLA: That would be the case. If they prove that in the investigation that there was something wrong in the process of the bids. I think they're
gonna - they're gonna change on that, and they're gonna say well wait a minute. You can't go forward with something that's not been done properly
in first place.
GORANI: So, therefore, considering everything we know today, is this day a good day for football?
GINOLA: I think so. As I said, it's a start. It's not an end of something. It's probably a (INAUDIBLE) I'm very positive. I wanna see as
a start of something - something of - something completely fresh - something new with new people and people who just open the doors - like
opening your arms and say come to me, because, come to me - you can trust me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Well, we'll see if that happens one day. Let's remind you first of the structure - the executive structure at FIFA. We know President Sepp
Blatter has not been indicted, but his two current vice presidents have been - Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands, as well as Eugenio Figueredo of
Uruguay. A former vice president from Trinidad and Tobago, Jack Warner, is also a suspect in this U.S. investigation.
There are several other big names under investigation - for example, a current member of the executive committee, Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, as
well as Jose Maria Marin, former president of the Brazilian football federation, who's now on FIFA's Olympic Tournament Committee.
Let's get some perspective in the studio now, from a FIFA reform campaigner, British Member of Parliament, Damian Collins, is with us in the
studio. You heard David Ginola say he thinks the FIFA presidential elections - the election for FIFA president set for Friday we understand
should be delayed. Do you agree?
DAVID COLLINS, FIFA REFORM CAMPAIGNER AND BRITISH CONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: I do, and interesting - interestingly the UEFA has now come
out and said the same thing as well. It can have no credibility going ahead now.
What needs to happen is a process of an independent body coming in and oversee what's going on at FIFA, to lead the cooperation in the different
investigations, and then set a new time table for presidential elections. But I think we should also be clear that Sepp Blatter must not be a
candidate in those elections.
GORANI: But he will be candidate. I mean it seems like that's the way things are going right now.
COLLINS: Well, I mean, things are moving pretty fast, and they - the Swiss authorities launched a new investigation. The FBI have made pretty clear
that this is not the end of their investigation. They may bring further charges too. I would say that what happens Sepp Blatter may not have been
charged with anything, but I believe as president he is culpable. He has presided over FIFA in a series of senior roles throughout the entire period
of this investigation.
GORANI: You're no fan of Sepp Blatter. It's not - previously you said Blatter promised us he would reform FIFA in the world football because the
process would always an inside job - he's failed to do that.
COLLINS: Yes, absolutely. Michael Garcia was appointed as an investigator to lead a review process. What his frustration was - that when he
completed his report - it was up to Sepp Blatter and the FIFA executive committee if it was published, if they agreed with it, was there public
scrutiny of it. And, the...
[15:40:08] GORANI: There was a summary of it provided...
COLLINS: Yes, which Michael Garcia said bore no reflection on the thrust of what he'd actually said in his report and that there was a culture of
entitlement on the executive committee, that it was corrosive, it was damaging the heart of it. And I think what the FBI have got to the heart
of is something we believe has been the case with FIFA for a long time. The senior executives sought (ph) to enrich themselves and run world
football into the ground.
GORANI: Now, let's talk about Qatar and Russia. Do you think those - the allegation of the World Cup to those two countries should be reconsidered?
COLLINS: Yes, it should. The process should be rerun. (INAUDIBLE) voted on that? (Several) of those people have had to leave their post because of
corruption allegations. One of those people, Chuck Glazier (ph) , has admitted guilt on ten counts following the FBI investigation, including
allegations of money laundering and racketeering. So, how could we have confidence in that process given what has happened now?
GORANI: When FIFA is not saying that this is something they're even considering right now.
COLLINS: Well, no, that first reaction this morning was that this is a step (INAUDIBLE) calm about what had happened. I think anyone looking at
this would think they're living in a totally different world - that is a world that is coming to an end. I don't think people will let them get
away with it.
GORANI: Do you think that - do you think that people in this case are going have to make changes - they're going to be forced into making changes
as big, perhaps, as reality (ph) - the World Cup venue to other countries?
COLLINS: We'll certainly be running the process. I think we are in the final days of this whole (INAUDIBLE) regime now and that we will see a big
change. I think the fact that UEFA has come out is pretty significant against them. (INAUDIBLE) this investigation will run and, almost
regardless of what happens in the next 48 hours, there will be - there could be further charges, further arrests, more investigations. It's not
over.
GORANI: We're gonna see what happens on Friday in Zurich. It's gonna be very interesting. Damian Collins, a member of parliament here, also
campaigning for reform at FIFA. Thanks very much for joining us on CNN. We really appreciate your time.
If you have questions about this complex story, CNN experts will answer them for you. Tweet your questions using the hashtag #fifaqs.
Still to come - flowery descriptions of romance, faith and sisterhood written by an ISIS bride. Could her blog be responsible for recruiting
dozens of young women to a world of terror?
And the Pope's top deputy condemns the vote to legalize gay marriage in Ireland and calls it quote "a defeat for humanity." Is the church losing
its connection with ordinary people in the country? We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: ISIS makes no secret of its brutality. In fact, it makes a point of flaunting it to terrorize people into positions. But one woman is
portraying life under ISIS as exciting, purposeful, even paradise.
[15:45:02] It may be easy for us to dismiss her blog as crazy propaganda, but as Atika Shubert reports, the flowery writing could serve as a powerful
recruitment tool.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE):
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And after a few seconds, we could hear more and more bombs - the house shaking. My friends asked me to open all the doors and
windows.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN JOURNALIST: She calls herself (INAUDIBLE) and blogs under the pen name Bird of Jannah, bird of paradise. Wreckless (ph) prose
and poetry and Technicolor images of life. Imagine (INAUDIBLE) ISIS.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After a few minutes, I lift my niqab. He looked at me. Our eyes catch each other. I have palpitations that are faster than
the speed of light.
SHUBERT: Hers is a romance - idealistic young woman travels to Syria. She claims faith, sisterhood, a man of her dreams, Abu Bara (ph), a Moroccan
fighter, and now a son. Her blog entries often end with novel-like cliffhangers, as what she texts her husband on the battlefield.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Promise me you will wait until our baby's birth. Promise me that you will stay alive.
SHUBERT: (INAUDIBLE) maintains the world's largest database on the women of ISIS. She says Bird of Jannah is unique.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She actually posts some very personal things on this blog - pictures of her child. (INAUDIBLE) pictures of her husband,
pictures of the (INAUDIBLE) ago on her (INAUDIBLE) page. So, it is very much a view that we wouldn't otherwise have - a very real time, up-to-date
version of looking into what life is like inside the home of the Jannah (ph).
SHUBERT: Who is Bird of Jannah? Her identity still unknown. She says she's a practicing doctor. She posts pictures of the hospital at Tatka
(ph) and claims to operate an ISIS clinic from her home. She says her parents are from Pakistan and India, but once called the U.K. and Malaysia
home. She makes a compelling and dangerous recruiter for ISIS, actively encouraging young women to contact her, inviting them to join her in the
doula or space created by ISIS.
(INAUDIBLE) ISIS has built a utopia - no racism, no poverty, and a list of benefits for fighters and their families - health care and education. But
read between the lines. Getting married is not required, she says, yet a woman cannot walk around freely without her husband or male guardian, she
admits. Erin Saltman of the Institute of Strategic Dialogue says it's critical for young women to know the reality.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIN SALTMAN, SENIOR COUNTER-EXTREMISM RESEARCHER, INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE: That's very alluring. The idea is that when you go there you
get free housing and free medical and you cook lovely meals for your husband. That's the propaganda. Obviously, the reality is very different.
Electricity is scarce. Hot water is scarce. You are waking up in the middle of the night hearing planes overhead, reaching for a suicide belt,
not knowing if you're going to be infiltrated and killed. You are in a war zone. And, actually, the realities of the day-to-day life really disprove
this utopian idea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I came here alone and broken. (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: (INAUDIBLE) flowery words mask the brutal reality of being a wife and mother in a war zone. Bird of Jannah it seems lives in a paradise
of her own lies (ph).
Atika Shubert, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Coming up - Ireland voted overwhelmingly in favor of gay marriage. The majority of people there were happy. The Vatican is not celebrating.
That conversation is next.
[15:48:45]
(COMMERICAL BREAK)
[15:50:30]
GORANI: Pope Francis says that the quote, "Alliance of love between a man and a woman is quote 'an alliance for life and cannot be improvised'."
Now, he talked about the importance of marriage between a man and a woman a day after his top deputy criticized the vote to legalize gay marriage in
Ireland.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLIN, THE VATICAN SECRETARY OF STATE (through translator): These results have made me very sad. As the bishop of Dublin
has said, the church needs to take into account this reality. But it must do it in a sense that it needs to reinforce all of its commitments and
efforts to evangelize our culture. I believe that we cannot speak only of the defeat of the Christian principles, but a defeat of humanity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Let's talk about The Vatican's reaction to Ireland's vote to legalize gay marriage. I'm joined by Father Edward Beck, CNN's Religion
Commentator and Host of "The Sunday Mass." Father Beck joins me now from New York.
What's your reaction to essentially - essentially the most senior Vatican official, you know, after the Pope, saying that this Irish referendum is "a
defeat for humanity?"
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FATHER EDWARD BECK, CNN FAITH AND RELIGION COMMENTATOR AND HOST OF THE SUNDAY MASS: Hala, my impression is that the tone was just a little
inconsistent with what we had been hearing lately from Pope Francis. Pope Francis has, of course, as you noted in the piece, spoken out against same-
sex marriage, has extolled traditional marriage. However, this is the same pope who also said, who am I to judge.
This is the same pope who allegedly, when he was archbishop in Buenos Aires, supported civil unions, as opposed to same-sex marriage because he
saw it as an issue of human rights. And also, recently, he met with a transgender man at The Vatican who had called him and asked to see him.
So, again, the tone is a little bit different than what we're hearing from the secretary of state. However, it is consistent with the church teaching
of traditional marriage between a man and a woman.
GORANI: Is it because you think people of (INAUDIBLE) Pope Francis surprising with statements that sound more inclusive, more tolerant of
alternate lifestyles and then, when the top cardinal says this is a defeat for humanity, people are just sort of reminded maybe of the types of
statements they expected to hear from top-level Vatican officials before Pope Francis became pope?
BECK: I think that's part of it, Hala. I also think that reality of some of these issues is changing very quickly. And the church has to decide as
an institution how it is or is not going to keep up. We now have 20 countries who have legalized same-sex marriage. Half of those are
predominately Roman Catholic countries. So, the majority of the denominations are Roman Catholic in about ten of those countries.
And now Ireland, of course, predominately Catholic, by a 60 percent margin - more than that - approves this referendum. So, the church has to begin
to consider what side does it want to be on. If it's faithful, if it's Roman Catholics, are not agreeing with this official position, as Catholics
of course do not with birth control - they kind of vote with their feet - does the church need to be more in dialogue with the parishioners, with its
faithful with regard to some of these issues? Or does it just hold firm in saying, no, this is the teaching? It always has been. It always will be.
GORANI: But that's the big challenge, isn't it, for the Catholic Church? Even the archbishop of Dublin, Father Beck, said, if this is the view of
young people in Ireland - this notion that gay marriage should be legal - then perhaps the church needs a reality check.
BECK: Yes, he did say that. And the secretary of state seemed to take issue with that statement. But the reality check is this. Does the church
need to hold so firm to this opposition to civil same-sex marriage when really the church doesn't recognize civil marriage for its own parishioners
anyway? So people are saying it's really a separation of church and state.
Why not let the state, if marriage is an issue of rights and privileges, let people be married as they wish? No one's asking the church or
religious institutions to sanctify these marriages. Keep sacred, sacramental marriage separate from civil marriage rights and privileges.
So, this is a debate I think that needs to continue with regards to the church.
GORANI: But it's also a debate about whether or not or question - an open question - about whether or not The Vatican is going to, at some point,
send the message that it is accepting of homosexual relationships - of homosexuality.
[15:55:11] We know France has nominated as its envoy to the Holy See an openly gay man. He has not been confirmed yet by The Vatican, and many
people are saying it's perhaps because he is openly gay. So, that's not about gay marriage. This is about simply being openly homosexual.
BECK: And I think, certainly, in the Pope's stance thus far, we have seen receptivity on the Pope's part to gay people to limiting these kinds of
statements drastically, and he has been open to it. That's the who am I to judge statement. So, yes, how do we acknowledge inclusion, acceptance of
people, but not necessarily condone a lifestyle that traditionally we don't agree with?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right, Father Edward Beck. Thanks very much for joining us there - with the reactions to some of the statements coming from The
Vatican after that Irish referendum. Thank you very much, Father Beck.
Ireland is not the only majority Catholic country to legalize gay marriage. We were discussing it there with Father Beck. Take a look at this map
here. TEXT: Over 20 countries have laws allowing same-sex marriages - highlighted there in green. The U.S. and Mexico allow same-sex marriage in
some areas - some jurisdictions. Nearly half of the countries that allow same-sex marriage also have a Catholic majority.
Some breaking new before we leave you this evening. CNN has just learned that it believes a recent data breach at the U.S. Internal Revenue Service
- the tax service - originated in Russia. Sources say that the agency now believes that a major cyber breach allowed criminals within Russia to steal
the tax returns of more than a hundred thousand people. The organized crime syndicate used personal data to access tax information and then filed
millions of dollars' worth of fraudulent returns.
We'll have a lot more on this in the next hour here on CNN. This has been THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. I'm Hala Gorani. Thanks for watching. Quest Means
Business is next.
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