FIFA re-elects Sepp Blatter as president

Sepp Blatter has been re-elected president of FIFA, football’s world governing body, in a vote overshadowed by arrests and corruption allegations. Blatter’s rival, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, withdrew after the first round of voting. Blatter fell seven votes short of the two-thirds needed, but Prince Ali opted not to contest further. Seven top officials were arrested in Switzerland on Wednesday as part of a US prosecution that indicted 14 people. Blatter, 79, has faced calls to resign, including from UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who said in Berlin on Thursday that the FIFA president should quit “the sooner the better”. ‘Current storm’ But Blatter hailed his victory, thanking all those who voted for him and his rival, Prince Ali. Blatter said: “I am not perfect, nobody is perfect, but we will do a good job together I am sure.” He also hinted that this term in office, his fifth, could be his last, saying: “At the end of my term I will give up FIFA in a strong position.” In conceding, Prince Ali said: “It’s been a wonderful journey... And I want to thank in particular those of you who were brave enough to support me.” The vote took place at FIFA’s congress in Zurich and a candidate needed 140 votes to win in the first round. Blatter won 133 to Prince Ali’s 73. The two candidates had earlier delivered final appeals to the electors. Prince Ali, 39, said that questions had been raised in recent days “about whether our FIFA family is morally bankrupt”. He said: “There are no easy answers and no blame that can be cast that will wash away the stain that marks us all.” Mr Blatter had said: “I am being held accountable for the current storm - so be it, I will shoulder the responsibility. I will take it upon myself and I want to fix FIFA together with you.” To applause from a large number of delegates, he said: “I would like to stay with you. I would like to continue with you.” Swiss inquiry The vote comes two days after seven top officials were held in Zurich in a US fraud inquiry that indicted 14 people. They are accused of bribery, racketeering and money-laundering involving tens of millions of dollars since 1991. The aim of the bribes was to influence the outcome of bids to stage football tournaments such as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2016 Copa America in the US, prosecutors say. Swiss prosecutors have launched a separate investigation into the bidding process for the World Cup tournaments in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar. Many of FIFA’s major sponsors, including Coca-Cola, Visa, Adidas, McDonald’s, Hyundai Motor and Budweiser, have expressed concern over the investigations.

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FIFA re-elects Sepp Blatter as president