ZURICH, Switzerland
The president of Europe's umbrella football organization, UEFA, has said Thursday that the majority of the European football associations would back Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan in the FIFA president election.
The comments by the Frenchman Michel Platini come a day after 14 individuals, including top officials from football's world governing body, were indicted in the U.S. for racketeering and corruption.
"We do not support Blatter anymore," said Platini in a press conference before the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's (FIFA) 65th congress in Zurich. "I wanted him [Blatter] 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," he said. "Prince Ali is young and enthusiastic. That's why I support him"
Meanwhile, FIFA President Sepp Blatter was defiant during the 65th FIFA Congress.
"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."
European football's top governing body had called Wednesday for postponing the upcoming FIFA presidential election after the arrests, warning that the FIFA congress risked turning into a farce.
FIFA’s 65th congress was due to gather Thursday in Zurich to elect a new president on Friday. Current FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan are in competition for the top post.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged Wednesday 14 defendants 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.
