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Sepp Blatter confident of fifth term as Fifa grandees gather in Zurich Sepp Blatter confident of fifth term as Fifa grandees gather in Zurich
(about 11 hours later)
In and around Zurich’s finest hotels they are going through a familiar ritual. The red carpet is being rolled out, the best restaurants block-booked and security detail increased to keep an eye on the “devils” of the media as the 209 Fifa member associations roll into town.In and around Zurich’s finest hotels they are going through a familiar ritual. The red carpet is being rolled out, the best restaurants block-booked and security detail increased to keep an eye on the “devils” of the media as the 209 Fifa member associations roll into town.
Just as Luis Figo, the former Portuguese world footballer of the year, lambasted the incumbent Sepp Blatter for failing to allow any light in on the debate over who might succeed him so the bloated grandees of world football circled their wagons on Tuesday.Just as Luis Figo, the former Portuguese world footballer of the year, lambasted the incumbent Sepp Blatter for failing to allow any light in on the debate over who might succeed him so the bloated grandees of world football circled their wagons on Tuesday.
But if Blatter was reluctant to talk about his plans, having previously insisted his 17 scandal-hit years atop Fifa should stand as his manifesto, then so too was his only remaining challenger, the Jordanian royal Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.But if Blatter was reluctant to talk about his plans, having previously insisted his 17 scandal-hit years atop Fifa should stand as his manifesto, then so too was his only remaining challenger, the Jordanian royal Prince Ali bin al-Hussein.
Figo, who withdrew last week along with the Dutch FA president, Michael van Praag, has accused the 79-year-old Swiss of running Fifa like a dictatorship.Figo, who withdrew last week along with the Dutch FA president, Michael van Praag, has accused the 79-year-old Swiss of running Fifa like a dictatorship.
Sweeping into Concacaf’s meeting before Friday’s vote, Blatter replied: “Luis Figo is free to say what he wants because he is a free man. I have received many titles. I am still the president until Friday at six o’clock in the afternoon, at least.”Sweeping into Concacaf’s meeting before Friday’s vote, Blatter replied: “Luis Figo is free to say what he wants because he is a free man. I have received many titles. I am still the president until Friday at six o’clock in the afternoon, at least.”
Ali has strong support within Uefa but is desperately hoping for enough support among the other five confederations to garner the 70 votes he would require to take Friday’s contest to a second round. Whereas a two-thirds majority is required in the first round, a simple majority is sufficient in the second.Ali has strong support within Uefa but is desperately hoping for enough support among the other five confederations to garner the 70 votes he would require to take Friday’s contest to a second round. Whereas a two-thirds majority is required in the first round, a simple majority is sufficient in the second.
As rumours of dirty tricks began to fly, Blatter exuded supreme confidence that he would win a fifth term as president.As rumours of dirty tricks began to fly, Blatter exuded supreme confidence that he would win a fifth term as president.
“I think it will be difficult to dislodge him. I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t re-elected by a very large majority,’” said Jim Boyce, ahead of his final engagement as Britain’s Fifa vice-president before he is replaced by David Gill. “He is married to Fifa. I think Fifa is his life.”“I think it will be difficult to dislodge him. I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t re-elected by a very large majority,’” said Jim Boyce, ahead of his final engagement as Britain’s Fifa vice-president before he is replaced by David Gill. “He is married to Fifa. I think Fifa is his life.”
The Asian Football Confederation, expected mainly to back Blatter despite Ali’s status as a vice-president (which he will relinquish on Friday), cancelled a planned meeting.The Asian Football Confederation, expected mainly to back Blatter despite Ali’s status as a vice-president (which he will relinquish on Friday), cancelled a planned meeting.
But both Ali and Blatter briefly addressed a meeting of the North and Central American confederation, Concacaf. Its president, Jeffrey Webb, criticised Ali’s plan to increase the number of teams in the World Cup finals to 36 in time for the Russia World Cup in 2018.But both Ali and Blatter briefly addressed a meeting of the North and Central American confederation, Concacaf. Its president, Jeffrey Webb, criticised Ali’s plan to increase the number of teams in the World Cup finals to 36 in time for the Russia World Cup in 2018.
“The World Cup is a jewel of football and, for me, you shouldn’t increase the spaces in a World Cup for political reasons,” said Webb, whose 35 voting member associations are expected mainly to back Blatter.“The World Cup is a jewel of football and, for me, you shouldn’t increase the spaces in a World Cup for political reasons,” said Webb, whose 35 voting member associations are expected mainly to back Blatter.
“Thirty-two is great. If you look at the standard, you look at the television ratings, it’s tremendous. Every single game. Do you want to go to a World Cup where you know what the score is going to be every single game?”“Thirty-two is great. If you look at the standard, you look at the television ratings, it’s tremendous. Every single game. Do you want to go to a World Cup where you know what the score is going to be every single game?”
Amid the jousting between the two presidential candidates, the six confederations are also jostling for position over the number of World Cup places they are allocated.Amid the jousting between the two presidential candidates, the six confederations are also jostling for position over the number of World Cup places they are allocated.
Blatter, dangling the prospect of more places for the non-European confederations, has said the matter will be discussed at an extraordinary executive committee meeting on Saturday morning, following the presidential vote.Blatter, dangling the prospect of more places for the non-European confederations, has said the matter will be discussed at an extraordinary executive committee meeting on Saturday morning, following the presidential vote.
Webb said he would “love it” if Concacaf increased its number of qualifiers from three and a half to four. But he said the fact that Uefa has only eight of the 25 voting seats on the Fifa executive committee has created an imbalance. “That has created a lot of the problems we have in football today,” he said.Webb said he would “love it” if Concacaf increased its number of qualifiers from three and a half to four. But he said the fact that Uefa has only eight of the 25 voting seats on the Fifa executive committee has created an imbalance. “That has created a lot of the problems we have in football today,” he said.
A poll of more than 35,000 fans across 30 countries has revealed the weight of public opinion against Blatter. More than eight in 10 said the Fifa president should not be standing again, having earlier promised to stand down.A poll of more than 35,000 fans across 30 countries has revealed the weight of public opinion against Blatter. More than eight in 10 said the Fifa president should not be standing again, having earlier promised to stand down.
Only 2% said Qatar should host the 2022 World Cup and less than one in five had confidence in Fifa, according to the poll conducted by the Swiss app developer Football Addicts and backed by Transparency International. Only 2% said Qatar should host the 2022 World Cup and less than one in five had confidence in Fifa, according to the poll conducted by the Swedish app developer Football Addicts and backed by Transparency International.
“The corruption and scandals associated with Fifa have so damaged its reputation that fans have no confidence in the organisation,” said Deborah Unger from Transparency International. “That is sending a strong message to the small elite controlling Fifa that it must clean up its act. It is the fans who pay for and support football and make Fifa one of the most powerful organisations on the planet. They deserve better.”“The corruption and scandals associated with Fifa have so damaged its reputation that fans have no confidence in the organisation,” said Deborah Unger from Transparency International. “That is sending a strong message to the small elite controlling Fifa that it must clean up its act. It is the fans who pay for and support football and make Fifa one of the most powerful organisations on the planet. They deserve better.”