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Sepp Blatter confirms he will stand for fifth term as Fifa president Sepp Blatter confirms he will stand for fifth term as Fifa president
(about 2 hours later)
Sepp Blatter has confirmed he will stand for a fifth term as Fifa president and dismissed the prospect of the 2018 or 2022 World Cup being disrupted by boycotts.Sepp Blatter has confirmed he will stand for a fifth term as Fifa president and dismissed the prospect of the 2018 or 2022 World Cup being disrupted by boycotts.
The 78-year-old’s tenure has been beset by controversy but, speaking via video link at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester, said “my mission is not finished” as the head of world football’s governing body. The 78-year-old’s tenure has been beset by controversy but, speaking via video link at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester, Blatter said “my mission is not finished” as the head of world football’s governing body.
Blatter called for tougher sanctions against racism in his first interview since the World Cup in Brazil, admitted the wildly-criticised decision to stage the 2022 World Cup in Qatar represented “a challenge” but insisted a European-led boycott of the next World Cup in Russia would be futile. He also denied players would refuse to play in Qatar should the tournament clash with the European football calendar. Blatter also called for tougher sanctions against racism in his first interview since the World Cup in Brazil, admitted the wildly-criticised decision to stage the 2022 World Cup in Qatar represents “a challenge” but insisted a European-led boycott of the next World Cup in Russia would be futile. He also denied players would refuse to play in Qatar should the tournament clash with the European football calendar.
Blatter’s decision to stand again for the Fifa presidency is no surprise and his re-election appears a formality after Michel Platini, Uefa’s chief executive, opted not to run. “A mission is never finished and my mission is not finished,” stated Blatter. “And I have told the Fifa Congress, I have told the congresses of the confederations. At the last congress in São Paulo (he received) not only the impression but the support of the majority, a huge majority of national associations asking, ‘please go on, be our president also in future’. Blatter’s decision to stand again for the Fifa presidency is no surprise and his re-election appears a formality after Michel Platini, Uefa’s chief executive, opted not to run. “A mission is never finished and my mission is not finished,” stated Blatter. “And I have told the Fifa congress, I have told the congresses of the confederations. At the last congress in São Paulo [he received] not only the impression but the support of the majority, a huge majority of national associations asking: ‘Please go on, be our president also in future.’
“I will inform the executive committee. It’s a question of respect also to say to the football family, ‘Yes I will be ready. I will be a candidate’.” “I will inform the executive committee. It’s a question of respect also to say to the football family: ‘Yes I will be ready. I will be a candidate.’”
The Fifa president said Platini’s decision not to challenge for the position later this month came as no surprise, but he did expect a contest with another Uefa candidate. He added: “I was not surprised because in private conversations I have had with Michel Platini before, during and after the World Cup he confirmed he would not be a candidate but there will be someone who will be contesting you. He is a reliable man when he is not only speaking colleague-to-colleague but as friend-to-friend even if we are not always at the same idea in football.” The Fifa president said Platini’s decision not to challenge came as no surprise, but he did expect a contest with another Uefa candidate. He added: “In private conversations I have had with Michel Platini before, during and after the World Cup, he confirmed he would not be a candidate but there will be someone who will be contesting you. He is a reliable man when he is not only speaking colleague-to-colleague but as friend-to-friend, even if we are not always at the same idea in football.”
Blatter had been due to visit Manchester only for a meeting on the dates for the Qatar World Cup at Fifa’s headquarters in Nyon to change his plans. The secret ballot is scheduled for 29 May in Zurich and the former Fifa international relations director Jerome Champagne is the only other person to say he will stand.
Blatter had been due to visit Manchester only for a meeting about the dates for the Qatar World Cup at Fifa’s headquarters in Nyon to change his plans.
The Fifa president insisted no decision has been taken on when to play in the searing heat of Qatar and denied players would boycott the tournament under pressure from leading clubs. “Players want to go to the World Cup and they would not deliberately not go to the highlight of their career,” he said. “Everybody wants to go the World Cup. A boycott of the players? No, I don’t believe that.”The Fifa president insisted no decision has been taken on when to play in the searing heat of Qatar and denied players would boycott the tournament under pressure from leading clubs. “Players want to go to the World Cup and they would not deliberately not go to the highlight of their career,” he said. “Everybody wants to go the World Cup. A boycott of the players? No, I don’t believe that.”
He also claimed there would be nothing gained by the proposed boycott of the 2018 World Cup in Russia for political reasons. Blatter added: “The decisions have been taken and we trust in the strengths of football that the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be played. There are already some voices coming out about 2018 talking about a boycott – a boycott in sport never has had any benefit. Let us wait and see the geo-political situation and Fifa shall not intervene with politics. But for the time being we are working with Russia.”He also claimed there would be nothing gained by the proposed boycott of the 2018 World Cup in Russia for political reasons. Blatter added: “The decisions have been taken and we trust in the strengths of football that the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be played. There are already some voices coming out about 2018 talking about a boycott – a boycott in sport never has had any benefit. Let us wait and see the geo-political situation and Fifa shall not intervene with politics. But for the time being we are working with Russia.”
Blatter claimed Fifa must await Michael Garcia’s report into possible corruption surrounding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups before commenting further on their controversial choices as hosts. “We are monitoring that (investigation) but not interfering,” he said. “For the time being we are strong to maintain the organisation of the World Cup in Russia and in Qatar in 2022. Concerning Qatar we still await the report of Fifa’s ethics committee who have made an in depth investigation and we are awaiting the results of this this month or next month.” Blatter claimed Fifa must await Michael Garcia’s report into possible corruption surrounding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups before commenting further on their controversial choices as hosts. “We are monitoring that [investigation] but not interfering,” he said. “For the time being we are strong to maintain the organisation of the World Cup in Russia and in Qatar in 2022. Concerning Qatar, we still await the report of Fifa’s ethics committee who have made an in-depth investigation and we are awaiting the results this month or next month.”
Greg Dyke, the Football Association chairman, described Blatter’s stance on alleged corruption as unacceptable at the recent World Cup and said there was no point in England bidding to host a competition while the 78-year-old remained at the helm of Fifa. Blatter responded: “I know Greg Dyke. He’s a man of communication. He’s a man who is really in all the media. He knows it works. And if he has an outburst once, then so what? I still respect him because I think he’s a good guy.Greg Dyke, the Football Association chairman, described Blatter’s stance on alleged corruption as unacceptable at the recent World Cup and said there was no point in England bidding to host a competition while the 78-year-old remained at the helm of Fifa. Blatter responded: “I know Greg Dyke. He’s a man of communication. He’s a man who is really in all the media. He knows it works. And if he has an outburst once, then so what? I still respect him because I think he’s a good guy.
“Don’t forget that, in football, you learn to win but also to lose. So, therefore, I appeal to all those to go back to the essence of football, and then you learn to lose. I have lost a lot of times but, if you lose, then you stay there and you try to be better. And then, stay fair, that’s all.” “Don’t forget that, in football, you learn to win but also to lose. So, therefore, I appeal to all those to go back to the essence of football, and then you learn to lose. I have lost a lot of times but if you lose, then you stay there and you try to be better. And then, stay fair, that’s all.”
Blatter also used the convention to call for tougher sanctions against teams or supporters found guilty of racism. He explained: “At the 2013 (Fifa) Congress in Mauritius there was a unanimous resolution taken to go against racism and discrimination. The catalogue of sanctions mentions the deduction of points, or elimination of a team when it is in a cup competition, or even the relegation of a team from a league. If in future one of the disciplinary committees of a league or a federation or a confederation or even Fifa would have the courage to use such a sanction to deduct two points or three points then it would stop. I’m sure it would stop because with pecuniary sanctions or to close part of the space for spectators or have an empty stadium, this is not a solution.” Blatter also used the convention to call for tougher sanctions against teams or supporters found guilty of racism. He explained: “At the 2013 [Fifa] congress in Mauritius there was a unanimous resolution taken to go against racism and discrimination. The catalogue of sanctions mentions the deduction of points, or elimination of a team when it is in a cup competition, or even the relegation of a team from a league. If in future one of the disciplinary committees of a league or a federation or a confederation or even Fifa would have the courage to use such a sanction to deduct two points or three points then it would stop. I’m sure it would stop because with pecuniary sanctions or to close part of the space for spectators or have an empty stadium, this is not a solution.”