Sepp Blatter Comments on 5th Term as FIFA President and More

Updates from Thursday, Sept. 11

Rob Harris of The Associated Press provides a statement from FIFA vice president Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein weighing in on Sepp Blatter's decision:

"

'When you talk about elections, I would really would like — maybe it's too late now — but in the future that it's not based on personality but based on a mandate, based on evolving the organization,' Prince Ali of Jordan said in his Manchester hotel suite while at the SoccerEx conference.

[...]

'Give it to someone else, let other people have a chance, but anyway it's obvious that it looks like Blatter will be back for the next four years.

I'm looking down the line after four years to have some real candidates, real candidates who run on an agenda and a mandate. I have done that in Asia. I have tried my best to try to fulfil everything.'

"

Original Text

Sepp Blatter has confirmed that he’ll stand for a fifth term as president of FIFA.  

Despite claiming back in 2011 that his current four-year stint in charge of football’s most powerful organisation would be his last, the 78-year-old is set to put himself forward for election once again in May in the interview with Soccerex.

ESPN FC's Richard Jolly provided a statement from Blatter:

"

I will be ready. I will be a candidate to stand for fifth term as president. My mission is not finished.

I will make an official declaration definitely in September now when we have the Executive Committee [meeting on Sept. 25-26]. I will inform the Executive Committee. It's a question of respect also to say then to the football family: 'Yes I will be ready. I will be a candidate.'

I got [from] the last congress in Sao Paulo not only the impression but the support of the majority, a huge majority, of national associations asking: 'Please go on, be our president also in future.'

"

On Tuesday, the Daily Mail's Mark Gleeson, via Reuters, provided a response to the announcement from the Dutch football association (KNVB) president Michael van Praag:

"

I realised this in Brazil, even after we in Europe had sought to discuss the impact of Blatter on the good name of FIFA.

We are very sorry that Michel is not standing. He is the only one who could have stood against Blatter.

Now Blatter's path to another term is open and that is not good for football.

"

Blatter looks as though he’ll be the sole candidate to represent the UEFA conglomerate after Michel Platini decided he wouldn’t stand for the presidency. And after FIFA oversaw a fine World Cup in Brazil earlier in the year, Blatter may feel as though he has plenty to offer.

Jolly also provided a statement from Blatter discussing Platini's decision:

"

I was not surprised because in private conversations I have had with Michel Platini before during and after the World Cup he has confirmed he would not be a candidate...but there will be someone who will be contesting you.

"

Blatter was re-elected as the sole candidate back in 2011, and a similar set of circumstances look likely to emerge ahead of the upcoming votes. With Platini's decision to withdraw from the race, there is no real competition for Blatter's spot.

Subsequently, the election process is set to lead to an inevitable result for the second consecutive time; it's an outcome that would see Blatter surpass 82 years of age during his tenure.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Ahead of a potential fifth spell in charge, he’ll be well aware of some momentous challenges that must be dealt with. Most notable are the controversies regarding the World Cups in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, which must be addressed sooner rather than later.

In the interview with Soccerex, Blatter touched upon the potential issues regarding the World Cups, per Andy Hunter of The Guardian:

Jolly also provided a statement from Blatter discussing the 2026 World Cup location:

"

If you look at the rotation of the World Cup then it should go back to Africa or go to the Americas.

And as we have been in South America, I think North America has a better chance than South America -- if I'm looking on the, let's say, the logic of the turnaround of the World Cup.

Perhaps there's a big commercial opportunity arising now in the United States because of the tremendous television audiences that are booming and that the World Cup has also encouraged in its domestic game as well. We did well with football when it first went to the United States but the opportunities are bigger now.

"

ESPN FC's Adrian Melville provided a synopsis of Blatter discussing another potential change:

ThePFA.com's Staff continued with an additional statement from Blatter discussing the ability to challenge decision within a match:

"

I will bring it to the attention and perhaps we will find a league, a professional or semi-professional league, they will try to do it.

It can only be done where there is television coverage of all the matches.

Or in one FIFA competition, we can try in a youth competition to do so, an under-20, like next year, we are in the under-20 in New Zealand. So we could test such challenge calls.

Coaches should have the right in the half, twice or once, to challenge a refereeing decision, but only when the game is stopped.

Then there must be a television monitor, but by the television company and not by another referee.

And then the referee and the coach, they will go then to look, and then the referee may change his mind, as is the case in tennis, for instance.

"

Outside of FIFA, there are plenty who would query the the wisdom behind Blatter—an often divisive figure—remaining in a position of such authority. But with the Swiss keen to continue and next to nothing in terms of competitive candidates, there seems to be no other alternative.

Ultimately, these upcoming four years will do plenty to define Blatter’s legacy as FIFA president. Hurdling the obstacles posed by the aforementioned issues is an unenviable task, but as a key facilitator in deciding the destinations of the World Cups in 2018 and 2022, the onus will be on Blatter to ensure things go as smoothly as is possible.