FIFA election 2015 LIVE: Can Sepp Blatter hold on? The world of football awaits amid corruption scandal and arrests rocking the sport

Voting has finished in FIFA presidential election and counting has begun
Sepp Blatter is expected to win a fifth term in office
His opponent Prince Ali bin al-Hussein is being backed by Europe
But Blatter will command support from the rest of the world
Blatter earlier said £100m corruption scandal was a western conspiracy
He said there would be no problem if ‘two other countries’ – meaning England and the USA – were awarded World Cups in 2018 and 2022

and
Adam Shergold

Published:
07:15 GMT, 29 May 2015

|
Updated:
16:39 GMT, 29 May 2015

764

View
comments

Counting is underway in the election to decide whether Sepp Blatter wins a fifth term as FIFA president.

Although the European nations are likely to vote for Blatter’s opponent, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, the incumbent president is expected to command enough support from the rest of the world to win a majority.

Voting began at around 4pm UK time, with the results expected to be known at 5pm.

In his final hustings speech before the 209 member associations of FIFA made their way into the sealed voting booths in the congress hall in Zurich, Prince Ali called for reform.

Blatter promised to make changes to restore people’s faith, saying: ‘We don’t need revolutions we need evolutions. I’m being held accountable for the storm, okay, I will shoulder that responsibility.

WATCH VOTING IN THE FIFA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION LIVE HERE

Sepp Blatter is confident of winning a fifth term as FIFA president in Friday afternoon’s election in Zurich

Blatter presents a pennant to his election rival Prince Ali bin al-Hussein today in recognition of his efforts on the executive committee

The delegate from Austria casts his vote in the election to decide FIFA’s next president

FA chairman Greg Dyke steps forward to cast his vote in Friday’s presidential election in Zurich

Two voting booths were set up on the stage in Zurich to enable delegates to cast their votes

Blatter is all smiles as voting gets underway at the FIFA Congress. The voting phase took 90 minutes

‘I will take it upon myself. I will accept this responsibility and I want to fix FIFA together with you.’

He added: ‘At the end of my term of office I want to hand over a strong FIFA.’

The 79-year-old went on to talk about corruption directly, but stressed it is not the only issue facing FIFA going forward.

‘Corruption is a word that is bandied around so much. We also have to protect our house from racism, match-fixing, violence,’ he said.

Spreading out his arms to applause, he added: ‘I would just like to stay with you, I would like to continue with you.’

Prince Ali used his speech to call for reform, saying: ‘We have heard in recent days, voices which described our FIFA as an avaricious body which feeds on the game that the world loves.

‘We have heard questions raised about whether our family is morally bankrupt. And we have heard countless individuals ponder how on earth it could have gotten so bad.

A candidate prepares to cast his vote inside the booth in the presidential election

Blatter walks to the podium to deliver his final hustings speech beneath the flags of the member nations

Blatter’s opponent, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, makes his final hustings speech before the election

Each of the candidates had 15 minutes to outline their pledges before voting got underway in Zurich

Blatter walks past the UEFA president Michel Platini, who urged his member nations to vote for Prince Ali

‘There are no easy answers. And no blame that can be cast that will wash away the stain that marks us all.

‘And yet, nothing in life can exist without hope. And even the darkest nights are broken by a new dawn.’

The 39-year-old head of the Jordanian FA added: ‘Change is not an event. It is a process. It is not about empowering wrong doing and then demanding to root it out.

‘Our path – and our way to the future – must be lit by the creation of a culture that empowers transparency, inclusivity and accountability.

‘Our rehabilitation in public perception will only come through the actions and work of all of us, together, pulling in the same direction, for the good of the sport, and for FIFA.’

David Gill becomes a FIFA vice-president, but he has said he will resign if Blatter is re-elected today

UEFA president Michel Platini greets FIFA head Sepp Blatter as the FIFA Congress begins on Friday

Blatter tried to strike a defiant tone after a turbulent week that saw FIFA mired in corruption charges

Earlier, in a rambling speech to open Friday’s FIFA Congress, beleaguered Blatter claimed things would be different if two other countries had emerged from the envelopes.

He meant England for 2018 and USA for 2022 – a dig at the British media who have led the anti-Blatter agenda and the FBI, whose investigations led to seven arrests and 14 officials indicted on bribery and kickback charges by the US Attorney.

Blatter said: ‘They call into question the World Cups of 2018 and 2022. In December 2010 here in Zurich when we decided on the two World Cups in one session.

‘If two other countries had emerged from the envelopes, we would not have these problems today. But we can’t go back in time, we are not prophets. We can’t say what would have happened.’

A pro-Palestinian protester gained access to the conference hall at the end of Blatter’s speech on Friday

The protester, waving a Palestinian flag, was swiftly removed by security guards

YOUR GUIDE TO FRIDAY’S VOTE

How many votes does Blatter need to be re-elected?

There are 209 votes available from national associations, although various absences, including of some of those arrested, will make it fewer, perhaps 200. If neither candidate receives a two-thirds majority in the first round of voting, a second vote will take place where all that is needed for victory is a simple majority — meaning something between 100 and 105 votes could be enough.

How are the votes divided around the world?

Every member of FIFA gets one vote, no matter how big they are or their footballing history. So Malawi gets the same as world champions Germany and so on.

Europe (UEFA) 53; Africa (CAF) 54; Asia (AFC) 46; North and Central America (CONCACAF) 35; South America 10; Oceania 11

Prince Ali’s camp is saying he has the majority of European votes and 60 or so more. What would that mean for Blatter?

Prince Ali would then become the next president of FIFA because he can expect at least 45 votes from UEFA members, so 60 others could take him past the majority.

But that is one big ‘if’. The African confederation are pledged as a bloc to Blatter, which gives him 54 votes.

The Asia confederation have 46 votes and most, if not all, will go to Blatter. CONCACAF have 35 votes and at least half and probably more will go to Blatter.

With Blatter also expecting votes from South America (they have 10) and Oceania (11), you would expect him to have a clear majority, perhaps 135 votes at least, with Prince Ali on around 74 at most.

However, the revelations of this week might have changed some people’s minds.

So if Prince Ali’s claim of 60 is correct, it will be a seismic shock.

What do the bookmakers say?

Blatter remains odds-on favourite with every single bookmaker, as strong as 1-5 in some places, although generally around 1-2. But to put that in some kind of context, he has spent much of the past few months as 1-20 favourite. Things are much closer after the past few days

Pro-Palestinian protesters briefly interrupted Blatter’s speech with world football’s governing body set to vote later on whether to expel Israel from the organisation.

The two female protesters stormed the opening address, waving red cards at FIFA representatives and chanting ‘Israel out!” before being escorted out of the hall by security guards.

A group of around 150 pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered to chant outside Zurich’s Hallenstadion before the congress started.

A bomb scare during lunch only added to the drama as the delegates from the 209 associations were told they were not permitted to remain in the Congress Hall.

Michel Platini (right) buries his head in his hands as Blatter (left) addresses the floor at the Congress today

Platini was seated next to Blatter’s election opponent Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein at the Congress today

Prime Minister David Cameron had earlier urged Blatter to step down, saying ‘the sooner that happens the better.’

Speaking in Berlin, he said: ‘In my view he should go. You cannot have accusations of corruption at this level and on this scale in this organisation and pretend that the person currently leading it is the right person to take it forward. That cannot be the case.

‘Frankly what we have seen is the ugly side of the beautiful game and he should go.

‘And the sooner that happens the better and the faster that organisation can start to rebuild its credibility which is so important because so many people around the world want to see this game properly managed, properly looked after so we can all enjoy the World Cups of the future.’

Prime Minister David Cameron called for Blatter to step aside, saying ‘the sooner that happens the better’

Blatter with his girlfriend Linda Barras during the opening ceremony of the FIFA Congress on Thursday

Blatter speaks to girlfriend Linda Barras as the FIFA Congress started on Thursday

The head of Brazil’s football federation fled Switzerland on the eve of the vote.

Marco Polo Del Nero left Zurich on Thursday night along with members of his personal delegation amid rumours he was spooked by the arrest of his predecessor Jose Maria Marin the day before.

Marin, who was in charge of the Brazilian FA between 2012 and 2015, was one of the 14 men indicted in the United States-led investigation into £100m of FIFA corruption.

A FIFA spokesman confirmed Del Nero had checked out of the five-star Baur au Lac hotel, where the dawn raids took place on Wednesday, and left the country – though he did not state why.

Del Nero, 74, was not one of those indicted by the United States. He is a member of FIFA’s 24-member executive committee.

Marco Polo Del Nero, head of the Brazilian football federation, fled Switzerland on the eve of the vote

Jose Maria Marin, the former head of the Brazilian FA seen here with FIFA president Blatter, was one of seven football officials arrested in Zurich on Wednesday as two corruption investigations were launched

Even if he is re-elected, the Swiss could face a UEFA revolution that could see the European nations secede from the world governing body, withdrawing from events such as the World Cup.

English FA chairman Greg Dyke supported Platini’s proposed boycott of the World Cup.

He told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: ‘There is no point in one or two countries saying ‘we’re not going to take part’ because they will carry on with the tournament without them and that is pretty unfair on the fans.

‘But if UEFA as a group said “look, unless you get this sorted we are not going to be in the World Cup” then I think that we would join them.’

Platini talks to Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, the FIFA presidential candidate, on Friday morning

Protesters over the treatment of workers on the 2022 World Cup stadiums in Qatar outside the FIFA Congress

ITALIAN NEWSPAPER CLAIMS FIFA WERE INVOLVED WITH MATCH-FIXING AT 2002 WORLD CUP

Friday’s edition of Corriere dello Sport

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claim the latest FIFA scandal confirms their long-held suspicions about Italy’s match against South Korea at the 2002 World Cup.

This match and the Spain vs South Korea quarter-final were marred by some dubious refereeing decisions, which saw hosts Korea upset the odds and triumph.

These latest Corriere reports, however, don’t feature any new information and merely serve to remind their readers of the injustice suffered by Italy 13 years ago.

The Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno, who sent off Italy’s Francesco Totti in a much-scrutinised decision, is currently serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking.

‘They rigged the World Cups!’ runs the front page headline of Friday’s edition, adding ‘Remember the referee Moreno? Suspicions confirmed on the favours to Korea in 2002.’

Korea beat Italy 2-1 thanks to a golden goal in extra time from Ahn Jung-hwan. Roma striker Totti was sent off by Moreno after 104 minutes after receiving a second yellow for diving.

Blatter said at the time: ‘Italy’s elimination is not only down to referees and linesmen who made human not premeditated errors … Italy made mistakes both in defence and in attack.’

Meanwhile, former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner appeared at a political rally for his Independent Liberal Party in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago, on Thursday.

Having surrendered to authorities on Wednesday, he was granted bail but left jail in an ambulance complaining of exhaustion.

But the politician still had enough energy to rant against the corruption charges.

He said: ‘If I have been thieving FIFA money for 30 years, who give me the money? How come he is not charged? Why only persons from Third World countries have been charged?’

Warner’s remarks drew enthusiastic cheers and applause from his supporters.

Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner addresses supporters at a political rally on Thursday – hours after he was bailed by authorities having turned himself in over the £100m corruption allegations

Warner salutes the crowd following a political rally just hours after he left prison in an ambulance

Warner, who had turned himself over to authorities on Wednesday, left a Port-of-Spain police station in an ambulance the following day

In other developments, two of B ritain’s biggest High Street banks have been dragged into the corruption scandal.

Barclays and HSBC are named in legal papers filed by the US Department of Justice after millions of dollars in suspect transactions linked to FIFA were allegedly moved through their accounts.

Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and City of London Police are assisting the FBI in their inquiries.

‘The SFO continues actively to assess material in its possession and has made plain that it stands ready to assist ongoing international criminal investigations,’ a spokesman said.

The SFO has not launched a formal criminal investigation.

THE 14 MEN CHARGED IN UNITED STATES INVESTIGATION INTO FIFA CORRUPTION