Fifa president Sepp Blatter has been voted in for a fourth term in
office.
The 75-year-old Swiss was the only candidate in Wednesday's election, with
the English and Scottish Football Associations failing to delay the vote.
They wanted a postponement amid allegations of corruption within Fifa, but
were only supported by 17 of the member associations.
Blatter won re-election with 186 votes from the 203 member associations and
he will be in charge until 2015.
"I thank you for your trust and confidence from the bottom of my heart," said
Blatter, who was applauded back into the auditorium by the rest of Fifa congress
after his unchallenged victory in Zurich.
"Our pyramid is intact, the base, the foundation is strong and together we
have four years to continue on our path and do our job.
"We will put Fifa's ship back on the right course in clear, transparent
waters. We need some time to do it, but we shall do it.
"Today something marvellous happened and I'd simply like to tell you I'm
deeply moved and honoured. It's a challenge, a new one for me, and I accept it."
English FA chairman David Bernstein had put the proposal to Fifa's congress
to delay the vote but 172 of 206 voters opted against a delay.
Blatter was unopposed because his rival Mohamed Bin Hammam, president of the
Asian Football Federation, pulled out after being suspended over bribery
allegations.
The English and Scottish FAs needed three-quarters of Fifa's congress to back
their proposal but received little support, with Wales and Northern Ireland both
choosing not to back a delay.
In an address to Fifa's congress on Wednesday, Bernstein asked for a delay
"to allow time for an additional candidate or candidates to stand and compete in
an open and fair election."
He added: "Only by doing so will the winner have proper credibility over the
next four years."
The conclusion to his speech received a noticeably cool reception from the
Fifa members in Zurich, with one or two applauding but the rest sitting in
silence.
The lack of support became even clearer when several Fifa members who
followed Bernstein to the podium
voiced strong criticism of the FA's stance.
"We are ill at ease with people who wield unfounded accusations - he who
accuses must provide evidence," said Selemani Omari, president of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo's football federation.
"Fifa belongs to 208 national associations and not to one association, we
must not seek solutions through the media or a Parliament in any third country."
Representatives of Haiti, Benin, Fiji and Cyprus also expressed their
disapproval to more enthusiastic applause.
Fifa senior vice-president Julio Grondona, alos president of the Argentina
FA, delivered a stinging riposte to his English counterparts.
"We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies with the support
of journalism which is more busy lying than telling the truth," said the
Argentine. "This upsets and disturbs the Fifa family.
"It looks like England is always complaining so please I say will you leave
the Fifa family alone, and when you speak, speak with truth."
But Bernstein later released a statement which defended the FA's stance and
said they were encouraged by the support they received from other member
associations as well as Blatter's speech which followed on from Bernstein's in
which he promised to implement changes.
"After hearing the speech from Sepp Blatter, we believe the calls we have
made for greater transparency and better governance have been worthwhile," said
Bernstein.
"While we did not succeed in deferring the presidential election, it was
positive to be joined by 16 other nations in supporting our democratic request
for the vote to be delayed, while a further 17 nations abstaining clearly shows
that we are not alone or isolated in our views in relation to the current
situation Fifa finds itself in. "
The FA had announced before the congress that it would be abstaining from the
presidential vote and, even though their actions unsettled many Fifa members,
they did receive the backing of the UK government.
"We agree with the FA that Fifa should have suspended the presidential
election until the investigations had been completed," said a spokesman for
Downing Street.
"The most important thing is for the public to have confidence in Fifa and
for that to happen we need to have Fifa reform."
Blatter, who has held his post since 1998, has promised to implement changes
at Fifa in the wake of the allegations of corruption as he told the congress he
was determined to guide the organisation out of its current troubles.
"We have been hit and I personally have been slapped," said the Swiss, who
continues to receive plenty of support despite the controversy which has
surrounded Fifa.
"We have made mistakes and we will learn from this. I can say to a certain
extent that this is a good warning, not just to look into our problems and I am
willing to face the public anger in order to serve football.
"I am the captain weathering the storm, this is a difficult period for Fifa
and I admit that readily. Not only is the pyramid shaking but our ship has drawn
some water.
"We need someone who will accept this responsibility. I'm willing to do this.
And reforms will be made not just touch-ups but radical decisions, the necessary
reforms.
"We must do something because I do not want ever again that we face this
undignified situation."
Originaly presidential candidate
Bin Hammam, along with Concacaf president Jack Warner, was provisionally
suspended by Fifa's ethics committee over allegations that financial
incentives were offered to Caribbean Football Union (CFU) members. Both have
denied any wrongdoing.
Bin Hammam has appealed against his ban but was denied entry into the Fifa
congress meeting on Wednesday.
The controversy over his withdrawal resulted in the English and Scottish FA's
action, with allegations of bribery concerning the World Cup bidding process
also undermining Fifa.
Major sponsors expressed their concern over the damage being done by these
allegations, while the president of the German Football Federation, Theo
Zwanziger,
has called upon the organisation to re-examine the award of the 2022 World Cup
to Qatar.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13610973.stm
