Fifa re-elects Sepp
Blatter as president
29 May 2015
Sepp Blatter has been re-elected
president of Fifa, football's world
governing body, in a vote
overshadowed by arrests and
corruption allegations.
Mr Blatter's rival, Prince Ali bin al-
Hussein of Jordan, had forced a
second round of voting but
withdrew.
In his victory speech, Mr Blatter
said: "I am the president now,
the president of everybody."
Seven top officials were arrested
in Switzerland on Wednesday as
part of a US prosecution that
indicted 14 people.
Mr Blatter, 79, has faced calls to
resign, including from UK Prime
Minister David Cameron, who
said in Berlin on Thursday that
the Fifa president should quit
"the sooner the better".
'Crushed hopes'
But Mr Blatter hailed his victory,
thanking all those who voted
from him and praising the
bravery of his rival, Prince Ali, for
withdrawing.
In a rambling victory speech
citing God and Allah, he said: "I
am not perfect, nobody is
perfect, but we will do a good
job together I am sure.
"I take the responsibility to bring
back Fifa where it should be...
Let's go Fifa! Let's go Fifa!"
He also hinted that this term in
office, his fifth, could be his last,
saying: "At the end of my term I
will give up Fifa in a strong
position."
In conceding, Prince Ali said:
"It's been a wonderful journey...
And I want to thank in particular
those of you who were brave
enough to support me."
Michel Platini, the president of
the European football body,
Uefa, which had backed Prince
Ali, said: "I am proud that Uefa
has defended and supported a
movement for change at Fifa,
change which in my opinion is
crucial if this organisation is to
regain its credibility."
Global citizens' movement Avaaz,
which started the #BlatterOut
campaign, quickly condemned
the re-election.
Analysis: Matthew Kenyon, BBC
Sport
If you read most of the world's
media, Sepp Blatter's ability to
hang on to power at Fifa is
nothing short of miraculous.
After years of negative
headlines, the frenzy has
reached fever pitch in the wake
of the US allegations of
corruption - even though Mr
Blatter himself has not been
implicated. And running through
all this is a theme - bemusement
that much of the football world
keeps voting for him.
Nowhere is Sepp Blatter's
support stronger than across
Asia and Africa. So why do most
of the representatives from
those two continents appear to
be voting for him again?
Here's about as succinct an
answer as you're going to get -
from the president of the
Nigerian Football Federation:
"Blatter feels Africa. What Blatter
pushes is equity, fairness and
equality among the nations."
We're talking about two things -
the first is concrete investment,
often literally so. The second is
respect.
