SEPP BLATTER GETS FIFTH TERM IN POWER

ZURICH – The corruption crisis engulfing FIFA failed to topple Sepp Blatter yesterday as he was elected president for a fifth term.

The Swiss will continue to lead the world football’s governing body into his eighties after winning by a majority of 133 to 73 in the first round of the vote at the FIFA Congress in Zurich.

Blatter was just seven short of a majority and his opponent, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein decided to withdraw before the second round.  
Despite the 73-member associations throwing their support behind Blatter’s sole opponent, there will be no change at the top of the embattled organization.

It means Blatter, 79, will remain at the helm as authorities in the United States lead an investigation into endemic racketeering, bribery and money laundering involving leading FIFA officials going back decades.
The result also significantly increases the prospect of European nations boycotting future World Cups, as mooted by President Michel Platini on Thursday. 

In his acceptance speech, Blatter, who has been in charge since 1998 and will serve another four years said: “First of all I would like to give compliments and express my gratitude to his Royal Highness Prince Ali.
“He was a competitor, a challenger and he has obtained a very good result. He could have easily said ‘let’s go further - perhaps I will receive more votes’.

“I thank you that you accepted me and for the next four years I will be in command of this boat called FIFA and we will bring it back off shore and back to the beach. We will finally bring it back to where football can be played. “I take the responsibility to bring back FIFA and I am convinced we can do it. I’m a faithful man and God will help us bring back FIFA to where it should be. I promise you that at the end of this term, I will give FIFA to my successor in a strong position.”

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