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| Sepp Blatter re-elected as Fifa president for fifth term | Sepp Blatter re-elected as Fifa president for fifth term |
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| Despite the chaos and controversy engulfing world football’s governing body, Fifa president Sepp Blatter has secured a fifth term in charge. | Despite the chaos and controversy engulfing world football’s governing body, Fifa president Sepp Blatter has secured a fifth term in charge. |
| The 79-year-old defeated his rival, the Jordanian Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein, to whoops and cheers from his supporters. Blatter polled 133 votes to Prince Ali’s 73, which would have been enough to take the contest to a potential second round but his 39-year-old challenger withdrew. | The 79-year-old defeated his rival, the Jordanian Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein, to whoops and cheers from his supporters. Blatter polled 133 votes to Prince Ali’s 73, which would have been enough to take the contest to a potential second round but his 39-year-old challenger withdrew. |
| It could yet prove a pyrrhic victory. Blatter has weathered the storm in the short term but the result leaves him presiding over a split Fifa as he faces the biggest self-inflicted crisis in its 111-year history. “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,” he said, again promising to make this four year term his last. “The age is no problem. You have people that are 50 who look old.” | It could yet prove a pyrrhic victory. Blatter has weathered the storm in the short term but the result leaves him presiding over a split Fifa as he faces the biggest self-inflicted crisis in its 111-year history. “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,” he said, again promising to make this four year term his last. “The age is no problem. You have people that are 50 who look old.” |
| Prince Ali will claim a moral victory but could only land a glancing blow on the incumbent, who appeared giddy after winning his fifth term as president. “I like you, I like my job and I like to be with you. I’m not perfect, nobody’s perfect,” he said. “Trust and confidence, together we go.” | Prince Ali will claim a moral victory but could only land a glancing blow on the incumbent, who appeared giddy after winning his fifth term as president. “I like you, I like my job and I like to be with you. I’m not perfect, nobody’s perfect,” he said. “Trust and confidence, together we go.” |
| As investigations continue in the US into a web of bribery and corruption that has already led this week to seven arrests in dawn raids and charges against 14 senior executives, European football’s governing body Uefa will again loudly demand reform. | As investigations continue in the US into a web of bribery and corruption that has already led this week to seven arrests in dawn raids and charges against 14 senior executives, European football’s governing body Uefa will again loudly demand reform. |
| Its executives meet in Berlin next weekend before the Champions League final and were in militant mood after Blatter triumphed over his younger rival, who had promised to repair Fifa’s battered reputation and serve for only one four-year term. | Its executives meet in Berlin next weekend before the Champions League final and were in militant mood after Blatter triumphed over his younger rival, who had promised to repair Fifa’s battered reputation and serve for only one four-year term. |
| Uefa president Michel Platini, whose 53 members mostly backed Ali, had said that it could withdraw co-operation. FA chairman Greg Dyke has said that England could boycott the World Cup if other European nations decide to do so. “This is not over by any means. To quote the [US] Attorney General this is the beginning of the process not the end,” said Dyke after the vote. “The idea Blatter could reform Fifa is suspect. I’d 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.” | |
| Luis Figo, who along with the Dutch FA president Michael van Praag withdrew from the presidential race in an attempt to coalesce support behind Prince Ali, was scathing in his criticism of Blatter after the result and called on him to quit. | |
| “If Mr Blatter were minimally concerned about football, he would have given up of the re-election. If he has a minimal of decency, he will resign in the next few days.” | |
| David Gill, the former Manchester United chief executive who on Friday became a Fifa vice-president, confirmed on Friday night he would carry through his threat to resign immediately because Blatter won. | |
| Blatter had earlier vowed to fix Fifa “starting tomorrow”, telling delegates: “We don’t need revolutions we need evolutions. I’m being held accountable for the storm. OK, I will shoulder that responsibility.” | Blatter had earlier vowed to fix Fifa “starting tomorrow”, telling delegates: “We don’t need revolutions we need evolutions. I’m being held accountable for the storm. OK, I will shoulder that responsibility.” |
| Despite the spiralling crisis sparked by the US Department of Justice and Swiss prosecutors, Blatter succeeded with an appeal to the 209 member associations to give him another term. His support in Asia, Africa and pockets of Central America and Oceania helped him to victory despite opposition from Europe, the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It allows him to carry on his 17-year reign as president despite having previously promised to stand down in 2015. | Despite the spiralling crisis sparked by the US Department of Justice and Swiss prosecutors, Blatter succeeded with an appeal to the 209 member associations to give him another term. His support in Asia, Africa and pockets of Central America and Oceania helped him to victory despite opposition from Europe, the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It allows him to carry on his 17-year reign as president despite having previously promised to stand down in 2015. |
| Blatter has been at Fifa for 40 years, since his now disgraced predecessor João Havelange personally plucked him from watchmaker Longines to lead the commercialisation of the World Cup that has seen revenues rise in direct correlation with endless claims of bribery and kickbacks. | Blatter has been at Fifa for 40 years, since his now disgraced predecessor João Havelange personally plucked him from watchmaker Longines to lead the commercialisation of the World Cup that has seen revenues rise in direct correlation with endless claims of bribery and kickbacks. |
| In his closing speech to delegates, his third of the day in comparison to the 15 minutes ahis rival was afforded, the Swiss returned to familiar themes. “What football needs right now is a strong leader, an experienced leader, a leader who knows all the ins and outs of the situation,” he said. Just as he did four years ago, when he promised a “roadmap of reform”, he called on the 209 members to trust him, promised to “fix Fifa” starting tomorrow and made light of his age and the 17 years he has been at the top. | In his closing speech to delegates, his third of the day in comparison to the 15 minutes ahis rival was afforded, the Swiss returned to familiar themes. “What football needs right now is a strong leader, an experienced leader, a leader who knows all the ins and outs of the situation,” he said. Just as he did four years ago, when he promised a “roadmap of reform”, he called on the 209 members to trust him, promised to “fix Fifa” starting tomorrow and made light of his age and the 17 years he has been at the top. |
| “What is this notion of time? Time is infinite and we slice it up. I find the time I’ve spent at Fifa is very short and it will remain short.” To applause inside the bubble of the Fifa Congress, Blatter added: “I would quite simply just like to stay with you.” | “What is this notion of time? Time is infinite and we slice it up. I find the time I’ve spent at Fifa is very short and it will remain short.” To applause inside the bubble of the Fifa Congress, Blatter added: “I would quite simply just like to stay with you.” |
| Outside, the pressure increased. Jack Warner, the controversial Trinidadian former Concacaf president who was once one of Blatter’s closest allies and among those charged on Wednesday, delivered a thinly veiled threat after being released on bail. To hoots and applause from supporters in Trinidad, Warner said: “If I have been thieving Fifa money for 30 years, who gave me the money? How come he is not charged?” | Outside, the pressure increased. Jack Warner, the controversial Trinidadian former Concacaf president who was once one of Blatter’s closest allies and among those charged on Wednesday, delivered a thinly veiled threat after being released on bail. To hoots and applause from supporters in Trinidad, Warner said: “If I have been thieving Fifa money for 30 years, who gave me the money? How come he is not charged?” |
| Brazil’s Fifa executive committee member Marco Polo del Nero fled Zurich ahead of the meeting following the arrest of his predecessor José Maria Marin on Wednesday. Like Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb, of the Cayman Islands, and five others, Marin is being held in custody while appealing extradition to the US. | Brazil’s Fifa executive committee member Marco Polo del Nero fled Zurich ahead of the meeting following the arrest of his predecessor José Maria Marin on Wednesday. Like Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb, of the Cayman Islands, and five others, Marin is being held in custody while appealing extradition to the US. |
| Blatter’s understated opponent, Prince Ali, had warned the delegates that “everything is at stake” in the wake of the dramatic events of this week, when Swiss police swooped on the Baur au Lac hotel to arrest seven senior Fifa officials. Seven more were charged in the US and four more, including former Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer, pleaded guilty. In all, they were charged with a total of 47 counts of money laundering, racketeering and tax evasion in what prosecutors called the “World Cup of fraud”. In contrast to his opponent, who tried to rally his “Fifa family” for one final time, Prince Ali warned that the world was watching and “Fifa does not exist in a bubble”. | Blatter’s understated opponent, Prince Ali, had warned the delegates that “everything is at stake” in the wake of the dramatic events of this week, when Swiss police swooped on the Baur au Lac hotel to arrest seven senior Fifa officials. Seven more were charged in the US and four more, including former Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer, pleaded guilty. In all, they were charged with a total of 47 counts of money laundering, racketeering and tax evasion in what prosecutors called the “World Cup of fraud”. In contrast to his opponent, who tried to rally his “Fifa family” for one final time, Prince Ali warned that the world was watching and “Fifa does not exist in a bubble”. |
| Platini said: “I am proud that Uefa has defended and supported a movement for change at Fifa. Change which in my opinion is crucial if this organisation is to regain its credibility. I congratulate my friend Prince Ali for his admirable campaign and I take the opportunity to thank all the national associations who supported him.” | |
| As protestors outside called for Fifa to take action over Qatar’s mistreatment of migrant workers building the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Blatter delivered a rambling 25-minute opening speech in which he called for unity among the 209 associations who would decide his fate. | As protestors outside called for Fifa to take action over Qatar’s mistreatment of migrant workers building the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Blatter delivered a rambling 25-minute opening speech in which he called for unity among the 209 associations who would decide his fate. |
| Related: Sepp Blatter: how the great survivor won another term amid Fifa crisis | Related: Sepp Blatter: how the great survivor won another term amid Fifa crisis |
| “We are at a turning point. We need to pull together and move forward. We can’t constantly supervise everyone in football,” insisted Blatter. “You can’t just ask people to behave ethically just like that.” | “We are at a turning point. We need to pull together and move forward. We can’t constantly supervise everyone in football,” insisted Blatter. “You can’t just ask people to behave ethically just like that.” |
| The Congress was briefly interrupted by Palestinian protestors backing its country’s move to have Israel banned from Fifa. They shouted “Red card for Fifa” before being bundled out by security. Later, Blatter attempted to stage manage a “handshake for peace” between the delegates from Palestine and Israel after the former had withdrawn a motion to suspend the latter. | The Congress was briefly interrupted by Palestinian protestors backing its country’s move to have Israel banned from Fifa. They shouted “Red card for Fifa” before being bundled out by security. Later, Blatter attempted to stage manage a “handshake for peace” between the delegates from Palestine and Israel after the former had withdrawn a motion to suspend the latter. |
| Proceedings were also interrupted by a bomb scare but Blatter’s problem’s are longer term. The US authorities have warned that their investigation is far from over and the 14 executives charged are likely to be probed for any connection that links their actions to Blatter. | Proceedings were also interrupted by a bomb scare but Blatter’s problem’s are longer term. The US authorities have warned that their investigation is far from over and the 14 executives charged are likely to be probed for any connection that links their actions to Blatter. |
| The seven executives arrested in Zurich, including Fifa vice-presidents Webb and Eugenio Figueredo, remain in custody and are fighting extradition to the US. | The seven executives arrested in Zurich, including Fifa vice-presidents Webb and Eugenio Figueredo, remain in custody and are fighting extradition to the US. |