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Sepp Blatter Withstands Scandal and Criticism to Secure a Fifth Term Sepp Blatter Withstands Scandal and Criticism to Secure a Fifth Term
(about 1 hour later)
ZURICH — The week began with Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s longtime president, acting anxious. Normally gregarious and chirping, Mr. Blatter greeted arriving members of the executive committee of FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, on Monday with an uncharacteristic reserve. He was, according to several officials who met with him, strangely quiet and introspective. He even talked about the possibility of losing the presidential election.ZURICH — The week began with Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s longtime president, acting anxious. Normally gregarious and chirping, Mr. Blatter greeted arriving members of the executive committee of FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, on Monday with an uncharacteristic reserve. He was, according to several officials who met with him, strangely quiet and introspective. He even talked about the possibility of losing the presidential election.
On Wednesday, Mr. Blatter’s mood had darkened further. A dawn police raid at a luxury hotel here was at the heart of a sweeping indictment against 14 soccer officials and marketing executives who were charged with staggering levels of corruption, a development that deepened the shadow hanging over Mr. Blatter and his organization.On Wednesday, Mr. Blatter’s mood had darkened further. A dawn police raid at a luxury hotel here was at the heart of a sweeping indictment against 14 soccer officials and marketing executives who were charged with staggering levels of corruption, a development that deepened the shadow hanging over Mr. Blatter and his organization.
In the end, however, Mr. Blatter somehow finished the week with the broadest of smiles. Despite the lingering controversy and a strong campaign by a determined opponent, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Mr. Blatter won a fifth consecutive term as FIFA’s president on Friday. On the first ballot, Mr. Blatter received 133 votes, just short of the two-thirds majority required for the victory; Prince Ali received 73. A second ballot would have required only a simple majority, making Prince Ali a long shot, and he withdrew from the race.In the end, however, Mr. Blatter somehow finished the week with the broadest of smiles. Despite the lingering controversy and a strong campaign by a determined opponent, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, Mr. Blatter won a fifth consecutive term as FIFA’s president on Friday. On the first ballot, Mr. Blatter received 133 votes, just short of the two-thirds majority required for the victory; Prince Ali received 73. A second ballot would have required only a simple majority, making Prince Ali a long shot, and he withdrew from the race.
“I want to thank, in particular, all of you who were brave enough to support me,” Prince Ali said in his concession. As he stepped away from the podium, he was greeted with a hug by Sunil Gulati, the president of U.S. Soccer, who had been one of his earliest supporters.“I want to thank, in particular, all of you who were brave enough to support me,” Prince Ali said in his concession. As he stepped away from the podium, he was greeted with a hug by Sunil Gulati, the president of U.S. Soccer, who had been one of his earliest supporters.
Mr. Blatter congratulated Prince Ali for what he said was “a very good result,” then told the delegates, “I like you,” adding: “For the next four years, I will be in command of this boat called FIFA. And we will bring it back on shore.”Mr. Blatter congratulated Prince Ali for what he said was “a very good result,” then told the delegates, “I like you,” adding: “For the next four years, I will be in command of this boat called FIFA. And we will bring it back on shore.”
The margin of victory was smaller than expected. Although the voting was conducted in secret — each of the 209 member nations sent a delegate, one by one, to a booth to fill out a paper ballot — Mr. Blatter has long had the support of many smaller or developing countries, to whom he has delivered consistent funding. While Europe and some countries in the Americas supported Prince Ali, Mr. Blatter banked widespread support from the Asian and African confederations, which account for 100 votes. (FIFA officials said three of the ballots had been ruled invalid.)The margin of victory was smaller than expected. Although the voting was conducted in secret — each of the 209 member nations sent a delegate, one by one, to a booth to fill out a paper ballot — Mr. Blatter has long had the support of many smaller or developing countries, to whom he has delivered consistent funding. While Europe and some countries in the Americas supported Prince Ali, Mr. Blatter banked widespread support from the Asian and African confederations, which account for 100 votes. (FIFA officials said three of the ballots had been ruled invalid.)
Given the stakes — the FIFA president oversees a global organization with billions in revenue — the vote itself had a charming simplicity. After each country was called to the front of the arena and cast its ballot, the folded paper slips were unceremoniously dumped out of two boxes onto a conference table for the count in a scene more reminiscent of the election of a student council president than one of the most powerful executives in sports.Given the stakes — the FIFA president oversees a global organization with billions in revenue — the vote itself had a charming simplicity. After each country was called to the front of the arena and cast its ballot, the folded paper slips were unceremoniously dumped out of two boxes onto a conference table for the count in a scene more reminiscent of the election of a student council president than one of the most powerful executives in sports.
With his victory, Mr. Blatter, 79, continues his 40-year career with FIFA; he has served as president since 1998. His accomplishments are significant; under his watch, FIFA has overseen considerable growth in soccer’s popularity and has drastically increased its commitment to women’s soccer, youth soccer and aid for developing countries through sports.With his victory, Mr. Blatter, 79, continues his 40-year career with FIFA; he has served as president since 1998. His accomplishments are significant; under his watch, FIFA has overseen considerable growth in soccer’s popularity and has drastically increased its commitment to women’s soccer, youth soccer and aid for developing countries through sports.
Although Mr. Blatter has never been directly implicated, FIFA has been dogged by scandal during his tenure. The latest arrests of several top soccer officials, which occurred Wednesday on behalf of the United States authorities, and a separate investigation by the Swiss police into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting rights have extended the long list of corruption allegations, which includes money laundering, blatant conflicts of interest and outright bribery.Although Mr. Blatter has never been directly implicated, FIFA has been dogged by scandal during his tenure. The latest arrests of several top soccer officials, which occurred Wednesday on behalf of the United States authorities, and a separate investigation by the Swiss police into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting rights have extended the long list of corruption allegations, which includes money laundering, blatant conflicts of interest and outright bribery.
That reality, as well as a glaring lack of transparency, led some officials, including Mr. Gulati, to push for a reform candidate who could challenge Mr. Blatter in this election. (Mr. Blatter had run unopposed in his last two elections.)That reality, as well as a glaring lack of transparency, led some officials, including Mr. Gulati, to push for a reform candidate who could challenge Mr. Blatter in this election. (Mr. Blatter had run unopposed in his last two elections.)
In a statement, Mr. Gulati said: “While we are disappointed in the result of the election, we will continue to push for meaningful change within FIFA. Our goal is for governance of FIFA that is responsible, accountable, transparent and focused solely on the best interests of the game. This is what FIFA needs and deserves, and what the people who love our game around the world demand. We congratulate President Blatter and it is our hope he will make reform his No. 1 priority to ensure the integrity of the sport across the world.”In a statement, Mr. Gulati said: “While we are disappointed in the result of the election, we will continue to push for meaningful change within FIFA. Our goal is for governance of FIFA that is responsible, accountable, transparent and focused solely on the best interests of the game. This is what FIFA needs and deserves, and what the people who love our game around the world demand. We congratulate President Blatter and it is our hope he will make reform his No. 1 priority to ensure the integrity of the sport across the world.”
Initially, four candidates were nominated to challenge Mr. Blatter: Prince Ali, Michael van Praag of the Netherlands, the former Portuguese player Luís Figo and the former French player David Ginola.Initially, four candidates were nominated to challenge Mr. Blatter: Prince Ali, Michael van Praag of the Netherlands, the former Portuguese player Luís Figo and the former French player David Ginola.
Mr. Ginola’s campaign was largely a sham — it was backed by an online sports-betting company seeking publicity — and he withdrew early, but it was only last week that Mr. van Praag and Mr. Figo stepped out and put their support behind Prince Ali, who campaigned on a platform that emphasized changing what he called a broken culture in FIFA.Mr. Ginola’s campaign was largely a sham — it was backed by an online sports-betting company seeking publicity — and he withdrew early, but it was only last week that Mr. van Praag and Mr. Figo stepped out and put their support behind Prince Ali, who campaigned on a platform that emphasized changing what he called a broken culture in FIFA.
“We have heard, in recent days, voices which described our FIFA as an avaricious body which feeds off the game it loves,” Prince Ali said in his speech to the delegates before the election. “We have heard questions about whether our family is morally bankrupt.”“We have heard, in recent days, voices which described our FIFA as an avaricious body which feeds off the game it loves,” Prince Ali said in his speech to the delegates before the election. “We have heard questions about whether our family is morally bankrupt.”
Speaking in a measured tone, Prince Ali continued: “Friends and colleagues: If you give me your backing, we can win the right to a new beginning.”Speaking in a measured tone, Prince Ali continued: “Friends and colleagues: If you give me your backing, we can win the right to a new beginning.”
It was a powerful speech from Prince Ali, but it did not sway enough of the delegates to dethrone Mr. Blatter, who in his own remarks joked, “I don’t need to introduce myself to you.” Mr. Blatter also repeatedly highlighted his long record with FIFA and announced that he planned to create a new department within FIFA dedicated to serving the needs of professional players and clubs.It was a powerful speech from Prince Ali, but it did not sway enough of the delegates to dethrone Mr. Blatter, who in his own remarks joked, “I don’t need to introduce myself to you.” Mr. Blatter also repeatedly highlighted his long record with FIFA and announced that he planned to create a new department within FIFA dedicated to serving the needs of professional players and clubs.
For the first time since the arrests of several of his colleagues, Mr. Blatter took some measure of responsibility for the problems that have plagued FIFA during his reign, saying in his speech, “I will shoulder it.” He added, “I just want to fix FIFA together with you.” That language from Mr. Blatter, however, was different from his comments earlier in the day, when he largely deflected the notion that he could monitor the behavior of his colleagues around the world. He told the Congress, “You can’t just ask people to behave ethically just like that.”For the first time since the arrests of several of his colleagues, Mr. Blatter took some measure of responsibility for the problems that have plagued FIFA during his reign, saying in his speech, “I will shoulder it.” He added, “I just want to fix FIFA together with you.” That language from Mr. Blatter, however, was different from his comments earlier in the day, when he largely deflected the notion that he could monitor the behavior of his colleagues around the world. He told the Congress, “You can’t just ask people to behave ethically just like that.”
Mr. Blatter’s new term — he has said, as he did after his last victory, that this will be a final mandate — begins beneath a substantial cloud. The two investigations, one by the United States Department of Justice and one by the Swiss authorities, figure to provide even more “bad news,” as Mr. Blatter described it, in the coming weeks and months. There are likely to be further arrests, depositions, extraditions and, perhaps, trials — all of which will extend the “current storm,” as Mr. Blatter said.Mr. Blatter’s new term — he has said, as he did after his last victory, that this will be a final mandate — begins beneath a substantial cloud. The two investigations, one by the United States Department of Justice and one by the Swiss authorities, figure to provide even more “bad news,” as Mr. Blatter described it, in the coming weeks and months. There are likely to be further arrests, depositions, extraditions and, perhaps, trials — all of which will extend the “current storm,” as Mr. Blatter said.
Further concerns for FIFA include human-rights violations involving the construction workers building stadiums and other infrastructure for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, a dispute between Israel and the Palestinians and an ever-worsening relationship between Mr. Blatter and UEFA, European soccer’s governing body. Michel Platini, UEFA’s president, called for Mr. Blatter to resign before the election and had said that UEFA would consider all options in its meeting of member associations next week if Mr. Blatter won the election, including a World Cup boycott and a complete withdrawal from FIFA. Further concerns for FIFA include human-rights violations involving the construction workers building stadiums and other infrastructure for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, a dispute between Israel and the Palestinians and an ever-worsening relationship between Mr. Blatter and UEFA, European soccer’s governing body. Michel Platini, UEFA’s president, called for Mr. Blatter to resign before the election and had said that UEFA would consider all options if Mr. Blatter won the election, including a World Cup boycott and a complete withdrawal from FIFA.
Mr. Platini said that UEFA associations would meet next week in Berlin, adding, “We will be open to all options.”
If UEFA does seek some sort of significant move, it is unlikely to be much more than another bump in the road for Mr. Blatter, who has endured through seemingly everything. While many in soccer’s larger community have continually clamored for a change, Mr. Blatter said that, in many ways, he felt as though his career were just beginning.If UEFA does seek some sort of significant move, it is unlikely to be much more than another bump in the road for Mr. Blatter, who has endured through seemingly everything. While many in soccer’s larger community have continually clamored for a change, Mr. Blatter said that, in many ways, he felt as though his career were just beginning.
“We don’t need revolutions, but we always need evolutions,” he said, before adding: “Time is a flat circle. I am with you. Some will say a long time; some will say too long. But what is time?”“We don’t need revolutions, but we always need evolutions,” he said, before adding: “Time is a flat circle. I am with you. Some will say a long time; some will say too long. But what is time?”
Mr. Blatter shrugged. “I say my time at FIFA has been too short,” he said.Mr. Blatter shrugged. “I say my time at FIFA has been too short,” he said.