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FIVB's Wei: No Reason to Investigate Alleged Vote-buying in Presidential Election Process

Volleyball - 11 Sep 2012 - By Martin Ross

Jizhong Wei, the outgoing president of the FIVB, volleyball’s international governing body, has said that he has no reason to start an investigation into the process of electing a new president after ‘conflict of interests’ claims made by presidential candidate Chris Schacht.

Schacht recently wrote to national volleyball federations around the world to signal his discomfort about the national Olympic committees of the three candidates being asked to host a dinner at the FIVB’s congress next week, when the elections will be held, and his concerns about the appointment of five of the continental presidents to form the election committee to run the presidential election process.

Schacht also cited "speculation" that all the continental presidents on the electoral committee, and Ary Graça from Brazil, who is considered the clear favourite for the presidential post, had signed a ‘secret letter’ to support the Brazilian’s bid, in return for the promise of appointments of certain individuals to paid positions and to chair various FIVB commissions.

However, in the wake of Schacht’s comments, Wei has written to the national associations and FIVB board members for reasons of "transparency and democracy," offering his answers to the media on the subject.

He said that he "didn’t receive any evidence of buying vote neither slanders against other candidates" and that he "has no reason to undertake investigation."

Volleyball Australia president Schacht, who is standing against Graça and Doug Beal from USA, questioned the appointment of five of the continental presidents to form the election committee to run the process, with Graça, already the president of the South American Volleyball Confederation, replaced by the vice president of the South American Volleyball Confederation.

Schacht claimed that, since their appointment, the continental presidents "have all declared their support for Mr Ary Graça," and that "there is a clear conflict of interest to be responsible in running a fair electoral process and to be at the same time campaigning for the election of a particular candidate," while also saying that he had asked Wei to consider appointing an electoral committee which is truly independent of the campaigns of any of the three presidential candidates.

In response, Wei has said publicly: "Some confederation presidents had the intention to run the FIVB presidency. In the spirit of FIVB solidarity, they decided to have democratic consultation among themselves. Then they reached a gentleman agreement. This happened before the others announced officially their candidature. I don't think this was against democracy. The FIVB president never involved in this process. He has been informed later."

The FIVB had claimed that the election committee, which it says is to appoint election scrutineers at the Congress, has been introduced for the first time "in order to guarantee fair and democratic elections."

Regarding the offer made by Wei’s office to Schacht and Beal for their respective national Olympic committees to follow in the footsteps of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and host a lunch or dinner at the FIVB’s congress, the FIVB president has defended the sponsorship proposal.

Wei said: "If the United States who has its candidate can host the Congress, why we do not allow the Brazilian Olympic Committee and the organising committee of Rio Olympic Games to offer a diner to all delegates. I gave the same opportunity to other two candidates. I think this is not unfair."

In stark contrast, Schacht had claimed that "to allow any national Olympic committee to pay to host a lunch at this congress is to clearly directly and indirectly influence the FIVB delegates to vote for the candidate from their nation," adding that the hosting of such an event at a cost of up to $50,000 is "demeaning to the standing of the FIVB as a major world sport."

Schacht wrote : "Would the Brazilian Olympic Committee be proposing such a sponsorship if Mr Graça was not standing for president? Of course they would not!"

Schacht said that he had approached the Australian Olympic Committee to explain that he did not support it sponsoring a meal at the FIVB congress, and that the AOC agreed, as it "would see it as a direct intervention into the affairs of an independent international sporting body."

Addressing the democracy and transparency of the FIVB election process, Wei has said: "The democracy is an abstract concept. How to carry on the transparency and democracy will be decided by the Board, if necessary, by the Congress. The Advisory Election Committee's composition was approved by the Board. The Board also decided to allow every candidate to appoint his representative who will work with the Advisory Election Committee during the whole election process. Mr. Schacht has already appointed his representative."

Asked at the end of last week if the FIVB was investigating the 'secret letter' claims, the FIVB said: "No, the FIVB is not... how to carry on the transparancy and democracy will be decided by the Board and, if necessary, by the Congress."

The elections will take place at the FIVB World Congress in Anaheim, California from September 19 to 21, and writing to the national volleyball federations and FIVB board members at the end of last week, Wei said: "I sincerely hope that with the spirit of solidarity we might work together to run a smooth and democratic FIVB President Election."

He concluded: "If I did something wrong or I was unfair, criticism would be highly appreciated. If not, I request your support and understanding."

Wei said at the time of his election in 2008 that he would serve just one four-year term, compared with the 24 years served by his predecessor Ruben Acosta, who was unopposed in various elections.

Acosta’s tenure proved controversial, especially towards the end, as it emerged that he received between 5 and 10 per cent commission on all sponsorship contracts signed during his presidency.

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