Photo: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters
Sepp Blatter has been re-elected as FIFA President and will serve his 5th term as the head of football’s governing body, despite appeals for him to step up down after Wednesday’s disgraceful corruption scandal. Blatter, 79, winning 133 votes, was unable to reach the necessary two-thirds majority in the first ballot but challenger Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan, with 73 votes, conceded defeat, thus, confirming that Blatter’s triumph. In the second round, the candidate with simple majority is awarded the presidency but the 39-year-old Prince Ali withdrew from the contest, thanking his supporters as he left the dais.
“For the next four years I will be in command of this boat called FIFA and we will bring it back ashore, we will bring it back to the beach,” Blatter said, agreeing that this will be his last 4-year-term at office. “The age is no problem. You have people that are 50 who look old.”
Investigations continue, as seven FIFA officials, including Vice-President Jeffrey Webb, were arrested by Swiss authorities from Zurich on request of the US Justice Department on Wednesday and are facing extradition to the United States on money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud charges, while 11 others were banned from FIFA for their alleged hand in these corruption scandals.
UEFA President Michael Platini urged Blatter to resign following the controversies, but to no avail and the Frenchman quite scathingly confirmed that the majority UEFA’s votes would go to Swiss’ Jordanian counterpart. Although the result was fairly predictable, many former players and executives were blunt about expressing their displeasure, both before and after the voting. “Football has lost” said former-Portuguese winger Luis Figo.
“This is not over by any means. The idea Blatter could reform FIFA is suspect.” FA England Chairman Greg Dyke exclaimed. “I would be very surprised if Mr Blatter was still in this job in two years’ time. The events of this week are so traumatic for FIFA that I cannot see FIFA reforming itself under Blatter. He’s had years to reform it and he hasn’t done it.”
“What football needs right now is a strong leader, an experienced leader, a leader who knows all the ins and outs of the situation. We don’t need revolutions; we need evolutions. I’m being held accountable for the storm.” Blatter claimed in typical fashion after his victory. “OK, I will shoulder that responsibility.”
We shall see Mr. Blatter. We shall see.
