Current FIFA President, Sepp Blatter has announced his bid for re-election, after first being elected as president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association in 1998 Blatter has served four consecutive terms for the past 18 years. Although Blatter hinted that the 2014 World Cup in Brazil would be his last, he recently announced his return to the FIFA presidential candidacy Monday in a pre-recorded interview shown at the SoccerEx conference. In the interview Blatter stated, “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.'”
There are likely a few things that helped make Blatter’s decision for him, a successful tournament in Brazil as well as UEFA President Michel Platini deciding not to run. Platini would have been Blatter’s biggest opponent, but in an interview with German magazine Bild, Platini stated “I have not decided against Fifa, but for the Uefa. I consider myself a candidate for the future open.”
Platini was also asked if he thought Blatter should run again, “I think Blatter should not be standing. Fifa has a terrible reputation, which is even encouraged by Blatter.”
Platini’s feelings on Blatter’s interest in the FIFA Presidency once again is likely to be mirrored by the majority of the soccer community. Following the controversial decision to allow a World Cup in Russia followed by Qatar, Blatter’s presidency has been filled with corruption. Despite being boo’d at many World Cup games in Brazil, Blatter feels he has the majority support from FIFA members, “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.”
The scandals heading into Russia and Qatar are not likely to slow down, whomever is the future President of FIFA heading into 2018 and 2022 will need to be able to justify their choices and deal with backlash from not only fans but potentially sponsors as well.
