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Fifa corruption inquiry: Sepp Blatter under pressure Fifa corruption inquiry: Sepp Blatter under pressure
(35 minutes later)
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has chaired an emergency meeting under growing political pressure over a corruption scandal that saw arrests on Wednesday. Fifa president Sepp Blatter has chaired an emergency meeting of football's governing body under growing political pressure over a corruption scandal.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron is calling for Mr Blatter to resign. Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed Mr Blatter for a fifth term. Seven senior Fifa officials were arrested in Zurich on Wednesday at the request of US prosecutors.
Mr Blatter says he has no intention of resigning, the BBC understands. UK Prime Minister David Cameron is calling for Mr Blatter to resign but Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed Mr Blatter for a fifth term.
Friday's presidential election will now go ahead and Uefa, which had threatened a boycott, says it will attend. Mr Blatter told the emergency meeting he would not resign.
The head of Uefa, Europe's football body, Michel Platini, had asked Mr Blatter to resign after the crisis talks in Zurich, which involved heads of the six international confederations. Friday's presidential election will now go ahead and Europe's football body Uefa, which had threatened a boycott, says it will attend.
Key sponsors have expressed concern over the twin corruption investigations by the US and Swiss authorities. The head of Uefa, Michel Platini, had asked Mr Blatter to resign at the crisis talks in Zurich, which involved heads of the six international confederations.
Key sponsors have expressed concern over twin corruption investigations by both the US and Swiss authorities.
Fifa bansFifa bans
Mr Blatter was not among the 14 people charged by the US authorities on Wednesday with racketeering, fraud and money laundering. Mr Blatter was not among the 14 people charged by the US authorities on Wednesday with racketeering, fraud and money laundering. Seven were the Fifa officials arrested by Swiss police in Zurich.
Seven were Fifa officials arrested by Swiss police in Zurich.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had urged a delay in the vote, saying Fifa's current image was disastrous
Mr Putin, however, said the allegations against Fifa were a clear attempt by the US to stop Mr Blatter's re-election.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) said in a statement that it opposed any delay to the vote. The BBC understands Uefa was the only confederation to put pressure on Mr Blatter to quit.
The emergency meeting was Mr Blatter's first appearance since the crisis began on Wednesday.The emergency meeting was Mr Blatter's first appearance since the crisis began on Wednesday.
Mr Platini met Mr Blatter one on one after the talks and asked him directly to step down, says BBC Sport's Ben Smith in Zurich. At a Uefa press conference later, Mr Platini said he had asked Mr Blatter for a private meeting but the president had asked him to speak in front of the other confederation heads.
The vice-chairman of England's Football Association, David Gill, said he would not take up his post on Fifa's executive committee if Mr Blatter were re-elected. Mr Platini said he had asked Mr Blatter "as a friend" to resign, but the president said it was too late as Fifa's congress was about to start.
Uefa agreed at its meeting on Thursday to throw its weight behind Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Mr Blatter's only challenger, in Friday's vote. Mr Platini said: "So many scandals have shaken Fifa. Fifa does not deserve to be treated like this."
Uefa agreed at its meeting on Thursday to throw its weight behind Jordan's Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, Mr Blatter's only challenger, in Friday's vote.
The vice-chairman of England's Football Association, David Gill, said he would not take up his post on Fifa's executive committee if Mr Blatter was re-elected.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) said in a statement that it opposed any delay to the vote. The BBC understands Uefa was the only confederation to put pressure on Mr Blatter to quit.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had earlier urged a delay in the vote, saying Fifa's current image was disastrous.
Mr Putin, however, said the allegations against Fifa were a clear attempt by the US to stop Mr Blatter's re-election.
Swiss investigationSwiss investigation
Fifa has provisionally banned from football-related activity 11 of the 14 people charged.Fifa has provisionally banned from football-related activity 11 of the 14 people charged.
Some of the officials are accused of receiving bribes to influence the outcome of bids to stage football tournaments, such as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2016 Copa America in the US. South African government officials have denied the claim.Some of the officials are accused of receiving bribes to influence the outcome of bids to stage football tournaments, such as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2016 Copa America in the US. South African government officials have denied the claim.
One of those indicted, Chuck Blazer, the former top American official at Fifa, has already pleaded guilty to four charges and has been a co-operating witness for the FBI since he quit football in 2013.One of those indicted, Chuck Blazer, the former top American official at Fifa, has already pleaded guilty to four charges and has been a co-operating witness for the FBI since he quit football in 2013.
In addition to Coca-Cola and Visa, major sponsors Adidas, McDonald's, Hyundai Motor, Budweiser and Gazprom are also pressing Fifa to take immediate action to restore its reputation.In addition to Coca-Cola and Visa, major sponsors Adidas, McDonald's, Hyundai Motor, Budweiser and Gazprom are also pressing Fifa to take immediate action to restore its reputation.
Swiss prosecutors plan to interview 10 Fifa executive committee members as part of a separate investigation into the bidding process for the World Cup tournaments in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar.Swiss prosecutors plan to interview 10 Fifa executive committee members as part of a separate investigation into the bidding process for the World Cup tournaments in 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar.
Are you a football fan from Qatar or Russia? What do you think about the latest developments? What would you like to see happen next? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments.Are you a football fan from Qatar or Russia? What do you think about the latest developments? What would you like to see happen next? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments.
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