Fear, loathing and a broken foot

While most of Europe had their eyes fixed on the unfolding drama in the Champions League and UEFA Cup this week, shadowy movements away from the spotlight might yet have even bigger repercussions for soccer than the outcome of those matches.

As England considers the damage done to David Beckham's broken left foot, Germany bemoans the exit of last year's European champions Bayern Munich and Spain relishes the prospect of an all-Spanish Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and Real Madrid, events in Zurich and beyond were, in their own way, just as dramatic as anything that happened on the field.

The principal players in the week's drama: FIFA president Sepp Blatter, FIFA general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen, CONCACAF president Jack Warner and CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer were between them responsible for finally making public one of FIFA's worst-kept secrets for years.

That there are anti-and-pro Blatter lobbies within world soccer's governing body has been well known for years. But what emerged into the public this week was something new. The vitriolic nature of statements made by both sides, and the intensity of the contempt each side has for the other are no longer disguised. Or can be again.

The gulf that exists between Blatter and, theoretically at least his right-hand man, is enormous.

The utter disrespect that Blatter supporters like Warner and Blazer have for Zen-Ruffinen was publicly displayed for the first time.

And the intensity of the of the in-fighting at the heart of world soccer's ruling authority suggests meltdown for some of those involved.

FIFA will survive, of course, but how many of the current principals are still in the same jobs by the end of the year is open to some doubt.

FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY

At the heart of everything is the collapse of ISL-ISMM, FIFA's long-term marketing partner, which nosedived into oblivion last May with debts of around $300 -- and perhaps 10 times that amount depending on who you listen to.

That single act plunged FIFA into financial uncertainty and put Blatter into a difficult position.

He has strong links with ISL and obviously with FIFA, but as his executive committee members demanded to know from him during the course of last year just how much FIFA had suffered as a result, he refused to tell them.

His defiance in the face of demands from the likes of political opponents like FIFA vice-presidents Lennart Johansson and Dr Mong-joon Chung are well documented.

They along with Issa Hayatou, the president of CAF, who is standing against Blatter in the FIFA presidential election next month, finally got the executive committee's wish to have an internal investigation into FIFA's financial affairs set up last month.

But on Thursday, Blatter suspended the committee after three weeks of its planned seven-week long investigation saying that there had been a breach of confidentiality regarding the way it was conducting itself.

That alone was sensational enough, but it came just a few days after CONCACAF -- namely Warner and Blazer -- had asked Blatter to suspend Zen-Ruffinen from his post if he did not resign willingly.

They claimed he had interfered in their confederation's affairs and was canvassing for Blatter's rival Hayatou in the run-up to the election on May 29.

One aspect of their public falling-out was that Blatter issued a humiliating public rebuke to Zen-Ruffinen.

A furious Zen-Ruffinen has now threatened to sue Warner and Blazer unless they withdraw the remarks they made about him by midnight on Monday. We will wait and see.

PULLING APART

But ultimately something has to give. Clearly Blatter and Zen-Ruffinen can no longer work together. If Blatter does suspend Zen-Ruffinen from his post, a move unprecedented in FIFA's 98-year-history, then Zen-Ruffinen could become an even more dangerous opponent as he will no longer be under the nominal control of FIFA.

If that does not happen and he remains in his job, he could be replaced after the presidential election -- that is, if Blatter wins the election which, though probable is not certain.

Or, the Blatter-Zen-Ruffinen feud could plunge FIFA into yet another extraordinary mess as Blatter, according to the statutes, cannot take action against the general secretary who is appointed by the executive committee -- of which a narrow majority a members are opposed to Blatter.

This week has been without precedent for FIFA in terms of damage to its public image and its esteem and there could easily be more of the same next week.

It all makes David Beckham's damaged foot look almost healthy in comparison. That should be okay again in six weeks. For FIFA the healing process is going to take a lot longer.