Sepp Blatter Re-Elected As FIFA President amid Corruption Scandal

Local Editor

FIFA's long-time head Joseph "Sepp" Blatter had won his fifth presidential term in a dramatic end to an angry campaign dominated by a corruption storm that engulfed the leadership of world football.

His challenger Jordan's Prince Ali bin al Hussein withdrew from the race after preventing Blatter from getting the required majority in the first round of voting.

Blatter, who had defied calls to resign, raised his arms in triumph and promised the congress to be the "commander" who "guides this boat FIFA" out of the corruption turmoil it has sunk into.

However, the 79-year-old Blatter indicated he would not stand again saying he would hand-over a "strong" FIFA to "my successor" in four years.

Blatter fell seven votes short of the two thirds majority to win in the first round. He got 133 votes to Prince Ali's 73.

The brother of Jordan's king still forced the vote into a second round; highlighting divisions within the scandal-tainted body that Blatter would struggle to overcome.

Though, the prince thanked those "brave enough" to vote for him before announcing he was pulling out. Blatter congratulated the prince on his performance.

The end of the campaign was overshadowed by the arrest on Wednesday of seven FIFA officials, including two vice presidents, accused by US authorities of taking tens of millions of dollars in bribes.

Further, Swiss police were also investigating the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar which had also been surrounded by corruption allegations.
In a final plea for votes, Blatter vowed to lead FIFA out of the corruption controversy if re-elected.

"I am held responsible for the storm. OK yes I accept this responsibility," he told the congress.

Accordingly, Blatter questioned the timing of the arrests so close to the election, declaring: "People say it was a coincidence. But I have a small question mark."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team