Blatter Re-Elected Amid Controversy
- Updated: May 29, 2015
Photo credit: FIFA.com
Despite facing heavy scrutiny amid charges of corruption and scandal, Sepp Blatter will serve a fifth term as president of FIFA after winning Friday’s election, which witnessed his opponent, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, withdraw his name from the ballot.
Although Blatter didn’t secure the necessary two-thirds majority of the votes during the first round of voting, Prince Ali conceded defeat shortly before the second round of voting.
Blatter, who has served as FIFA president since 1998, will remain in power until 2019. He vowed not to run again at the next election, a promise he similarly made after he won the 2011 election.
Following the vote, U.S. Soccer, which backed Prince Ali, issued a statement after Blatter won the election.
“While we are disappointed in the result of the election, we will continue to push for meaningful change within FIFA,” read the statement. “Our goal is for governance of FIFA that is responsible, accountable, transparent and focused solely on the best interests of the game.
“This is what FIFA needs and deserves, and what the people who love our game around the world demand. We congratulate President Blatter and it is our hope he will make reform his number one priority to ensure the integrity of the sport across the world.”
On Wednesday, Swiss law enforcement, with the backing of the FBI, arrested seven high-ranking FIFA officials in connection to charges of money laundering, bribery and corruption. Additionally, the FBI handed down indictments on 14 FIFA officials, including former CONCACAF head Jeffrey Webb.
The U.S. Justice Department conducted a press conference announcing the charges shortly after the raid. Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly T. Currie of the Eastern District of New York said that Webb, “used his position of trust to solicit bribes from sports marketing executives.”
Currie also said that the investigation is “only the beginning of our work.”
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch also told reporters that the investigation is also honing in on the last FIFA election.
“The indictment also alleges that corruption and bribery extended to the 2011 presidential FIFA election, and to agreements regarding sponsorship of the Brazilian national soccer team by a major U.S. sportswear company,” said Lynch.
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