By Andrew Warshaw
December 1 – Asian football’s entire membership has been urged by their president to vote for Sepp Blatter at next year’s FIFA election despite the deepening crisis over the 2018 and 2022 World Cup anti- corruption probe.
In a major blow to UEFA who want to see the back of 78-year-old Blatter after what is currently 16 years at the helm, FIFA’s Swiss leader has been given a ringing endorsement by one of the biggest regions in his attempt to fend off rivals and win a fifth term .
Blatter was among the guests at last weekend’s 60th anniversary of the Asian Football Confederation in Manila and in a letter to all 47 Asian federation presidents, written in the build-up to the gala jamboree, AFC chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa urged delegates to get behind Blatter when he stands for re-election in May.
“Based on the vast experience and global understanding of the game and its strategic role for our society, President Blatter has proven to be a strong leader and a true supporter of Asian football,” said the correspondence signed by Salman and seen by Insideworldfootball. “I therefore ask you to join me in supporting the FIFA president and to carry on developing our prosperous collaboration in years to come.”
UEFA boss Michel Platini has ruled himself out of contention at next year’s presidential election and Salman’s stance will test the mettle of anyone planning to take on Blatter. So far only former FIFA administrator Jerome Champagne has declared his firm intention to stand while Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein and Harold Mayne-Nicholls of Chile are both weighing up their options.
Salman repeated his support for Blatter by telling The Associated Press in Manila that any challenger had to consider what was best for the continent as a whole.
“If someone wants to run, they have to look at the interests of the whole continent…But it is a free choice, if they want to run, we can’t stop them,” said Salman in what might have been a deliberate attempt to dissuade Prince Ali from potentially splitting the Asian vote by standing.
The Bahraini football boss said there would no change to the AFC’s decision at its congress in June to back Blatter. “It was a unanimous decision,” Salman said. “We never go back on our words and commitments, that’s how we are.”
Salman, elected as AFC boss in May 2013 with an overwhelming majority, is himself up for re-election in May, shortly before the Fifa ballot, with no current challenger.
“It’s a democratic process, if someone wants to run, they can,” Salman said. “Most people are happy, and think I have done a good job. I have tried to bring the different zones in Asia together in the spirit of unity. There’s still six months to go so we’ll see.”
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