Blatter seeks another term as FIFA boss

John Bagratuni, dpa

The 64th FIFA congress ended in preservation of established practice rather than decide to complete a reform process Blatter himself had started in 2011 over a heavily tarnished FIFA image amid allegations of widespread corruption and lack of transparency allegations.

Blatter, 78, said that year he would step down after his fourth and current mandate in 2015 but has now confirmed he plans to run again next year at the congress in Zurich - against massive opposition from Europe's ruling body UEFA.

"My mission is not finished yet and I tell you we will build the new FIFA. The (2015) congress will decide who will take this institution into the future. I am ready to take you forward," Blatter told the delegates from FIFA's 209 member federations.

The remark came after an undisclosed majority vetoed an age limit for members, and surprisingly a limit on the number of terms of office as well. Both issues were seen as key parts of the reform.

The corruption probe of American prosecutor Michael Garcia into the controversial World Cup votes for 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) also came as part of the reform, and Garcia told the congress he had seen documents recently published by The Sunday Times newspaper in connection with bribery allegations related to Qatar's election.

"The vast majority of that material has been available to us for some time. It has and will be examined and reviewed. We have gone to the source, or who we believe to be the source, and are confident to have full access to that data set," Garcia said.

The Sunday Times published fresh corruption allegations in connection with the 2022 vote, with former top official Mohammed Bin Hammam of Qatar reportedly splashing out millions of dollars to win African and Asian votes ahead of the December 2010 World Cup ballot.

Garcia had originally planned to complete his probe Monday, but said Wednesday: "We will review it (the documents) before the final result." However, he said the probe - which involved interviews with all parties involved and sifting through "tens of thousands of documents" - will not go on indefinitely.

"We will follow our process which will produce a report that is comprehensive and fair to all parties'," Garcia said.

One of the Sunday Times authors, Heidi Blake, tweeted that Garcia's report will be published in autumn and that all bidders will be found guilty of wrongdoing in one way or another, citing sources.

The various affairs have also hurt Blatter, but is now ready to steam on as football must lead by example.

Blatter spoke of big challenges lying ahead "to steer football on the right path and steer it into a new era ... It is our duty to lead by example and behave by example. We have to go forward for the good of the game and the world.

"Football is not just a game but a multi-billion-dollar business. It creates opportunities but also controversial situations and difficulties."

Blatter has come under fire from UEFA, and Dutch and English federation chiefs Michael van Praag and Greg Dyke, respectively, told him bluntly in his presence at a UEFA meeting Tuesday to step down next year, saying he is ultimately responsible as president for the tarnished image of FIFA over the past years.

That did not go down well with Blatter at all who was fuming in the post-congress news conference.

"I have had to swallow a lot in my life. But I have never experienced something as disrespectful in my life, neither on the football field nor in my own house," Blatter said.

In seemingly another jibe at UEFA, Blatter also called for the introduction of video evidence he opposed as much a few years ago as seeking another term at the helm.

Undisputed, however, is FIFA's financial strength, with a surplus of 72 million dollars in 2013 reported Wednesday, and reserves of 1.4 billion. Finance director Markus Kottner said that FIFA will dish out 200 million dollars to the 209 members and that the budget for 2015-2018 is 5 billion dollars.

"The future is bright because of very strong finances," said FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke as the budget has grown tenfold from the 257 million dollars in 1995-1998.