Blatter re-elected FIFA head amid corruption scandal

by Can Erozden

ANKARA

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has been re-elected on Friday night amid charges of corruption at the top of football’s world governing body.

The 79-year-old Swiss competed against FIFA Vice President Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, 39, in the presidential election at the 65th FIFA Congress held in Zurich, Switzerland.

FIFA Vice President Prince Ali received 73 votes against Blatter’s 133 in the first round.

With neither candidate achieving a two-thirds majority, the election was to go into a second round; however, Ali announced his withdrawal before the second round began, giving Blatter his fifth election victory as FIFA President.

Blatter, at the helm of FIFA for 17 years, will be presiding over the organization for another four-year term.

UEFA President Michel Platini consoled Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan whilst the winner of the elections, Blatter received a loud applause and accepted the congratulations.

In his speech, Blatter said: "There are many problems to solve in the next four years. We will try to solve the problems in organization and board of directors. I was regarded as the responsible of the happenings. So I will try to fix FIFA with you by taking responsibility."

"I promise to leave a strong FIFA to my successor. We have to work together for this."

Bribery allegations put damper on FIFA presidential elections

The U.S. Department of Justice charged Wednesday 14 defendants -- including top FIFA officials -- in a 47-count indictment with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offenses, “in connection with the defendants’ participation in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.”

The U.S. authority also unsealed guilty pleas of four individual defendants and two corporate defendants.

Earlier Wednesday morning, Swiss authorities in Zurich arrested several defendants charged in the indictment, including FIFA vice presidents Jeffrey Webb and Eugenio Figueredo on money laundering claims during 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bidding processes.

Meanwhile, former FIFA vice president Jack Warner was released on bail Friday after being detained for being charged in a U.S. corruption case. British media said that Warner was released in Trinidad and Tobago after paying a $395,000 bail.

President Blatter was defiant during the Congress yesterday.

"I know many people hold me responsible. I cannot monitor everyone all the time. If people want to do wrong, they will also try to hide it," he said.

"There can be no place for corruption of any kind. The next few months will not be easy. I am sure more bad news will follow," Blatter added. "We lost the trust. We must now earn it back."

UEFA President Platini backs Prince Ali of Jordan

The president of Europe's umbrella football organization, UEFA, said Thursday the majority of the European football associations would back Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan in the FIFA presidential election.

"We do not support Blatter anymore," said Michel Platini in a press conference before the Federation Internationale de Football Association's (FIFA) 65th congress in Zurich. "I wanted him [Blatter] to resign. I said 'That's enough' but 'It's too late' he said."

"I met UEFA member associations and the majority will vote for Prince Ali," Platini said. "Prince Ali is young and enthusiastic. That's why I support him," he added.

European football's top governing body had called Wednesday for postponing the FIFA presidential election after the arrests, warning that the FIFA congress risked turning into a farce.

Below is the list of FIFA Presidents since the organization was founded in 1904: