Sepp Blatter wins Fifa election after Prince Ali withdraws
Sepp Blatter has been officially re-elected as Fifa’s president for a fifth term by the world governing body’s 209 member associations.
Blatter, 79, saw off the challenge of Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein at Fifa’s annual Congress in Zurich. In a secret ballot he was re-elected with 133 votes from the 209 voting members. The process was to go to a second round of voting, after Blatter failed to get the 139 votes needed in the first round to win; a two-thirds majority was necessary.
Blatter received 133 votes, Prince Ali 73 and three ballots were spoiled. However, Prince Ali conceded before the second round of voting took place – when a simple majority would have been enough for either contender to win.
“For the next four years I will be in command of this boat called Fifa,” said Blatter during a long, rambling speech. “Beach soccer will be played everywhere. I like you, I like my job. I am not perfect, nobody is perfect, but we will do a good job together I am sure. Let’s go Fifa, Let’s go Fifa. Thank you.”
Blatter was preceded on the stage by Prince Ali, who said: “I just wanted to thank all of you. It’s been a wonderful journey. I want to especially thank all of you who were brave enough to vote for me.”
Blatter returned to make a closing statement, declaring: “It is my congress, I have the right to make the closing remarks. This is a very important congress. You see I am in a good mood. I was a little bit nervous today, but now I am the president of everybody, I am the president of the whole Fifa. This game is important, but more important, enjoy life.”
Blatter has denied responsibility for the corruption scandal engulfing Fifa that has seen nine senior current or former Fifa officials accused of “hijacking” international football to run “a World Cup of fraud” by the FBI. Uefa’s president, Michel Platini, had refused to rule out European teams boycotting the World Cup if Blatter remained in office after urging the Swiss to stand down. Guardian
